Papal Mass in Kenya
Pope Francis celebrated mass at University of Nairobi grounds earlier today. My camera and I got the clearance necessary to join thousands of faithful from all over the world in this historic celebration of the Holy Eucharist, Pope Francis’ first in Africa.
Major newspapers today carried similar headlines, with full-page photos from Pope Francis’ arrival yesterday evening.
From as early as 4.30am, people had been arriving at the University of Nairobi Grounds.
The grounds were mapped into zones. This was the section reserved for the priests.
Before the celebration stared, the choir set the mood with several hymns.
The rains didn’t dampen the atmosphere.
The volunteers and first aid teams were at hand to assist those who needed their help.
Me with Peter Ndung’u, Amunga Eshuchi and David Mutua.
A section of the Priests awaiting Pope Francis’ arrival.
As close as I could get at 200mm.
Nowadays, everyone is a photographer…
…everyone…
…everyone…
…everyone.
The young boy is bound to be a future choir master.
The rains kept falling during the mass turning the grounds into a mud pitch.
Spotted this lady on one side of the grounds having the time of her life, singing out loud.
Her friend accompanied her, playing the kayamba with lots of passion.
I’ve decided to call this the Zacchaeus effect. Pope Francis didn’t ask him to come down so that he could dine at his place though. And I don’t think the guy works for KRA.
It was nice seeing President Kibaki. And Mama Ngina.
The Pope leaves the Grounds after the end of the Eucharistic Celebration. I’d positioned myself to get some close ups as he drove out but he used a different route.
I spotted these ladies cleaning shoes in the rain puddles, I guess to make sure they returned home the same way they left.
Many streets in Nairobi were closed to traffic, so faithful exercised a little on their way home.
Samson Kirigua
November 26, 2015 at 6:19 pmI’m loving this collection… my favourite is definitely the Zacchaeus effect 😀 … awesome work!
Wambui
November 26, 2015 at 6:25 pmWhen faith meets purpose. Such joy within all the faces in attendance.
njeri
November 26, 2015 at 6:39 pmSo cool… I did not expect this at all. But as always you have brought the emotions of the environment alive in your photos. Thank you.
Edgar
November 26, 2015 at 7:25 pmMwarv, thank you for these photos that have such a vibrance in them. Makes me feel like I was there 🙂
Tony Mwaura
November 26, 2015 at 7:52 pmPure work of art, a true genius
Mwari wa Kim
November 26, 2015 at 8:56 pmLove this. Good work Mwarv. When it comes to faith Zachaeus are many.
David Luwigi
November 26, 2015 at 9:01 pmPure inspiration!
Lydia Asena
November 26, 2015 at 9:22 pmThanks for sharing the great photos. Did you use flash in any of the images? I was there and you’ve captured the mood as it was. Even the mud is represented 🙂
mwarv
November 27, 2015 at 9:37 amNo flash was used. The sunlight was filtered by the heavy cloud cover making the lighting ideal for photography.
magda
November 29, 2015 at 9:35 pmI am the lady up there with a maroon jumper holding my less than two year old Maria…. A friend tagged me the link…. Aksante sana
Roshi
November 26, 2015 at 9:29 pmI love how you capture the real moments.
lemashon
November 27, 2015 at 12:09 amI like how you captured those little moments. Best of all, you were at the right place at the right time. Amazing.
David
November 27, 2015 at 4:57 amHi bro you have brought the candid emotions of the environment alive in your photos. Thank you.
Simon Kirui
November 27, 2015 at 8:00 amThe power of a lens…More especially when no photoshop is engraved..
Ciku
November 27, 2015 at 8:10 amVery well captured. There is one where only one guy is standing on a stool?😃
Sonya Kassam
November 27, 2015 at 8:16 amLoved these photos. Yes, the Zacchaeus effect was really cool. But every single image seemed to tell a whole story by itself. Beautiful.
Daniel GIkanga
November 27, 2015 at 8:18 amThe best of the season. Cool caption edp the KRA & Zacheus
yvonne
November 27, 2015 at 8:34 amBeautiful pictures!
bernadette
November 27, 2015 at 8:37 amThe images have brought out the day clearly, emotions of the people wooow. Thank u, we await to share the same joy today in Uganda.
Mwihaki
November 27, 2015 at 8:38 amThis is soo beautiful.. This is now how to capture moments and out of that u get a whole paragraph of a story.
Good work man!
Jimmi
November 27, 2015 at 8:41 amAwesome work…. Inspired….. We are beautiful people ….
Rational
November 27, 2015 at 8:47 amDespite world media tried to paint wrong image, God helped to send clear picture our people’s faith. CNN FOX BBC Aljazeera were waiting disaster to happen only decided to swift and chose to say Kenya is so poor and main pictures were kibera. Congrats
Daisy
November 27, 2015 at 9:20 amwho doesn’t love Kenya….The pics tell it all….The caption on the guy on the tree has cracked my ribs bwahahaha
priscilla mwaniki
November 27, 2015 at 9:22 amI wish people in kenya can seek God with as much eager as they did to Pope
Georgina Njoroge
November 27, 2015 at 10:05 amNice one! True emotions well communicated. Good work
simon sunguri
November 27, 2015 at 10:06 amAm not in kenya,Carolyne thankz a lot for the capture,ifeel well represented by fellow Kenya’s!kudos carolyne
Ndegwa
November 27, 2015 at 10:38 amGreat pics, Mwarv!
Addah
November 27, 2015 at 11:03 amI hope that the joy and happiness on the faces of the faithful is exactly how it shall be when the son of God appears on the cloud for the second time to take us home. What joy shall be!!
Kuria
November 27, 2015 at 11:23 amQuite a professional work. True the captions speak for the occasion.
Kimutai
November 27, 2015 at 11:52 amNice work
Mariah
November 27, 2015 at 11:53 amKenya is a blessed country! Awesome pix
Jennifer Muriuki
November 27, 2015 at 1:05 pmAbsolutely beautiful. Good stuff
mrs muthii
November 27, 2015 at 2:28 pmmoments captured so vivid…makes one feel like there were at the event…
good work man and may the Lord bless the work of your hands
Tim Kaburu
November 27, 2015 at 4:30 pmMoments well captured. I love your Work Mwarv.
labanmoindi
November 27, 2015 at 4:39 pmthe beauty of photography
John
November 27, 2015 at 5:25 pmIt was a day of blessings….just wonderful…thanks for the photos
John
November 27, 2015 at 5:26 pma blessed day…..thanks for photos
weldon
November 27, 2015 at 6:18 pmThis is amazingly perfect capture of the big time Kenyans had with The Pope!!!!!!!
njoki
November 27, 2015 at 7:16 pmgreat photos as usual.
Lewis
November 27, 2015 at 8:26 pmkudos …,I like this.
frank wainaina
November 28, 2015 at 5:10 pmSpeechless bro. The color, vigor, energy and high mood expressed in these shots speak louder than words can tell. Watching the live broadcast from this side, for sure I missed the particular moments that you captured. Asante sana bro!
magda
November 29, 2015 at 9:38 pmAm the lady there with a maroon jumper holding a babay… Nice work. Thanks. Beautiful
Joshua Wanyama
November 30, 2015 at 10:35 amGreat shots Mwarv. I was in shags but feel I might as well have been there after checking these out.
Larry Liza
December 1, 2015 at 7:10 pmI don’t know how I stumbled on this one… but I am glad I did. I love the colour of the multitude walking home. And every other picture. Less of the man of the moment himself but you his presence fills every photo. Enthralling! God bless you.
Kabura R. Ndung'u
January 15, 2016 at 4:10 pmAwesome! Especially liked the capture of the ladies washing in the rain puddles…
Frank
January 20, 2016 at 3:58 pmAwesome work Mwarv
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