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.
I’m loving this collection… my favourite is definitely the Zacchaeus effect 😀 … awesome work!
When faith meets purpose. Such joy within all the faces in attendance.
So 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.
Mwarv, thank you for these photos that have such a vibrance in them. Makes me feel like I was there 🙂
Pure work of art, a true genius
Love this. Good work Mwarv. When it comes to faith Zachaeus are many.
Pure inspiration!
Thanks 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 🙂
No flash was used. The sunlight was filtered by the heavy cloud cover making the lighting ideal for photography.
I 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
I love how you capture the real moments.
I like how you captured those little moments. Best of all, you were at the right place at the right time. Amazing.
Hi bro you have brought the candid emotions of the environment alive in your photos. Thank you.
The power of a lens…More especially when no photoshop is engraved..
Very well captured. There is one where only one guy is standing on a stool?😃
Loved these photos. Yes, the Zacchaeus effect was really cool. But every single image seemed to tell a whole story by itself. Beautiful.
The best of the season. Cool caption edp the KRA & Zacheus
Beautiful pictures!
The images have brought out the day clearly, emotions of the people wooow. Thank u, we await to share the same joy today in Uganda.
This 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!
Awesome work…. Inspired….. We are beautiful people ….
Despite 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
who doesn’t love Kenya….The pics tell it all….The caption on the guy on the tree has cracked my ribs bwahahaha
I wish people in kenya can seek God with as much eager as they did to Pope
Nice one! True emotions well communicated. Good work
Am not in kenya,Carolyne thankz a lot for the capture,ifeel well represented by fellow Kenya’s!kudos carolyne
Great pics, Mwarv!
I 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!!
Quite a professional work. True the captions speak for the occasion.
Nice work
Kenya is a blessed country! Awesome pix
Absolutely beautiful. Good stuff
moments 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
Moments well captured. I love your Work Mwarv.
the beauty of photography
It was a day of blessings….just wonderful…thanks for the photos
a blessed day…..thanks for photos
This is amazingly perfect capture of the big time Kenyans had with The Pope!!!!!!!
great photos as usual.
kudos …,I like this.
Speechless 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!
Am the lady there with a maroon jumper holding a babay… Nice work. Thanks. Beautiful
Great shots Mwarv. I was in shags but feel I might as well have been there after checking these out.
I 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.
Awesome! Especially liked the capture of the ladies washing in the rain puddles…
Awesome work Mwarv