documentary

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.

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Major newspapers today carried similar headlines, with full-page photos from Pope Francis’ arrival yesterday evening.

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From as early as 4.30am, people had been arriving at the University of Nairobi Grounds.

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The grounds were mapped into zones. This was the section reserved for the priests.

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Before the celebration stared, the choir set the mood with several hymns.

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The rains didn’t dampen the atmosphere.

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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.

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As close as I could get at 200mm.

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Nowadays, everyone is a photographer…

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…everyone…

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…everyone…

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…everyone.

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The young boy is bound to be a future choir master.

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The rains kept falling during the mass turning the grounds into a mud pitch.

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Spotted this lady on one side of the grounds having the time of her life, singing out loud.

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Her friend accompanied her, playing the kayamba with lots of passion.

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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.

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It was nice seeing President Kibaki. And Mama Ngina.

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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.

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I spotted these ladies cleaning shoes in the rain puddles, I guess to make sure they returned home the same way they left.

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Many streets in Nairobi were closed to traffic, so faithful exercised a little on their way home.

  1. Samson Kirigua

    November 26, 2015 at 6:19 pm

    I’m loving this collection… my favourite is definitely the Zacchaeus effect 😀 … awesome work!

  2. Wambui

    November 26, 2015 at 6:25 pm

    When faith meets purpose. Such joy within all the faces in attendance.

  3. njeri

    November 26, 2015 at 6:39 pm

    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.

  4. Edgar

    November 26, 2015 at 7:25 pm

    Mwarv, thank you for these photos that have such a vibrance in them. Makes me feel like I was there 🙂

  5. Tony Mwaura

    November 26, 2015 at 7:52 pm

    Pure work of art, a true genius

    1. Mwari wa Kim

      November 26, 2015 at 8:56 pm

      Love this. Good work Mwarv. When it comes to faith Zachaeus are many.

  6. David Luwigi

    November 26, 2015 at 9:01 pm

    Pure inspiration!

  7. Lydia Asena

    November 26, 2015 at 9:22 pm

    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 🙂

    1. mwarv

      November 27, 2015 at 9:37 am

      No flash was used. The sunlight was filtered by the heavy cloud cover making the lighting ideal for photography.

      1. magda

        November 29, 2015 at 9:35 pm

        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

  8. Roshi

    November 26, 2015 at 9:29 pm

    I love how you capture the real moments.

  9. lemashon

    November 27, 2015 at 12:09 am

    I like how you captured those little moments. Best of all, you were at the right place at the right time. Amazing.

  10. David

    November 27, 2015 at 4:57 am

    Hi bro you have brought the candid emotions of the environment alive in your photos. Thank you.

  11. Simon Kirui

    November 27, 2015 at 8:00 am

    The power of a lens…More especially when no photoshop is engraved..

  12. Ciku

    November 27, 2015 at 8:10 am

    Very well captured. There is one where only one guy is standing on a stool?😃

  13. Sonya Kassam

    November 27, 2015 at 8:16 am

    Loved these photos. Yes, the Zacchaeus effect was really cool. But every single image seemed to tell a whole story by itself. Beautiful.

  14. Daniel GIkanga

    November 27, 2015 at 8:18 am

    The best of the season. Cool caption edp the KRA & Zacheus

  15. yvonne

    November 27, 2015 at 8:34 am

    Beautiful pictures!

  16. bernadette

    November 27, 2015 at 8:37 am

    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.

  17. Mwihaki

    November 27, 2015 at 8:38 am

    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!

  18. Jimmi

    November 27, 2015 at 8:41 am

    Awesome work…. Inspired….. We are beautiful people ….

  19. Rational

    November 27, 2015 at 8:47 am

    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

  20. Daisy

    November 27, 2015 at 9:20 am

    who doesn’t love Kenya….The pics tell it all….The caption on the guy on the tree has cracked my ribs bwahahaha

  21. priscilla mwaniki

    November 27, 2015 at 9:22 am

    I wish people in kenya can seek God with as much eager as they did to Pope

  22. Georgina Njoroge

    November 27, 2015 at 10:05 am

    Nice one! True emotions well communicated. Good work

  23. simon sunguri

    November 27, 2015 at 10:06 am

    Am not in kenya,Carolyne thankz a lot for the capture,ifeel well represented by fellow Kenya’s!kudos carolyne

  24. Ndegwa

    November 27, 2015 at 10:38 am

    Great pics, Mwarv!

  25. Addah

    November 27, 2015 at 11:03 am

    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!!

  26. Kuria

    November 27, 2015 at 11:23 am

    Quite a professional work. True the captions speak for the occasion.

  27. Mariah

    November 27, 2015 at 11:53 am

    Kenya is a blessed country! Awesome pix

  28. Jennifer Muriuki

    November 27, 2015 at 1:05 pm

    Absolutely beautiful. Good stuff

  29. mrs muthii

    November 27, 2015 at 2:28 pm

    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

  30. Tim Kaburu

    November 27, 2015 at 4:30 pm

    Moments well captured. I love your Work Mwarv.

  31. labanmoindi

    November 27, 2015 at 4:39 pm

    the beauty of photography

  32. John

    November 27, 2015 at 5:25 pm

    It was a day of blessings….just wonderful…thanks for the photos

  33. John

    November 27, 2015 at 5:26 pm

    a blessed day…..thanks for photos

  34. weldon

    November 27, 2015 at 6:18 pm

    This is amazingly perfect capture of the big time Kenyans had with The Pope!!!!!!!

  35. njoki

    November 27, 2015 at 7:16 pm

    great photos as usual.

  36. Lewis

    November 27, 2015 at 8:26 pm

    kudos …,I like this.

  37. frank wainaina

    November 28, 2015 at 5:10 pm

    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!

  38. magda

    November 29, 2015 at 9:38 pm

    Am the lady there with a maroon jumper holding a babay… Nice work. Thanks. Beautiful

  39. Joshua Wanyama

    November 30, 2015 at 10:35 am

    Great shots Mwarv. I was in shags but feel I might as well have been there after checking these out.

  40. Larry Liza

    December 1, 2015 at 7:10 pm

    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.

  41. Kabura R. Ndung'u

    January 15, 2016 at 4:10 pm

    Awesome! Especially liked the capture of the ladies washing in the rain puddles…

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