Two Catholic priests from Machakos County, Rev. Fr. Martin Kilonzo and Rev. Fr. Paul Kinyumu, were honoured at a Requiem Mass held at Katoloni Seminary on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, after both men passed away on the same day in separate incidents.
The loss of two priests on a single day left the local Catholic community and the wider public in deep grief, with tributes pouring in from across the county and beyond.
Who are the leaders that attended the requiem mass?
Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti was among the leaders who turned up at Katoloni Seminary for the service, expressing her condolences to the families of both priests, the Catholic Church and all the faithful who had known and been touched by the two men.
“We mourn with their families, the Catholic Church and the faithful, even as we give thanks for their lives of faith, love and selfless service. May their souls rest in eternal peace,” she wrote in a post accompanying her attendance.
Machakos Senator Francis Mwangangi was also among the leaders who paid tribute to the two priests, reflecting the broad community impact their deaths had caused.
Requiem Mass held at Katoloni Seminary
The Requiem Mass at Katoloni Seminary brought together clergy, family members and the faithful in a solemn farewell to the two men who had dedicated their lives to religious service.
The passing of Rev. Fr. Kilonzo and Rev. Fr. Kinyumu on the same day, in separate circumstances, was described by many as an extraordinary and heartbreaking coincidence that deepened the sense of loss felt across the diocese.
Both priests were remembered as men who had given generously of themselves through their ministry, leaving lasting impressions on the communities they served.
