BBCA British man killed in a suspected hit-and-run involving a vehicle in the Kenyan president’s motorcade was “incredibly generous” and “always pleasant”, a friend has said.
Edgar Riches, 79, from Poole, Dorset, died on Thursday after he was struck on a road in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.
He had been visiting relatives in the country when he was fatally injured, the BBC was told.
Police detained a driver, since bailed, who is thought to have been driving a support vehicle at the back of President William Ruto’s official convoy.
Mr Riches worshipped at Poole’s St Joseph and St Walburga and Our Lady of Fatima Churches, was a long-standing member of the town’s Conservative Association and raised money for Catholic aid charity CAFOD.
Ann Stribley, the president of Poole Conservative Association, said she had known Mr Riches for about 50 years.
“He was private, quiet person but incredibly generous and if he said he was going to do something, he always did it,” she said.
“There’s a total sense of shock and loss. He will be greatly missed. I shall remember him as a kind, quiet and thoughtful, always pleasant, individual.
“He was a huge benefit to the association for many years and we will be lucky to see his like again.”
“[Mr Riches] was an active fundraiser and organised many social events, fundraising for CAFOD to help a school in Kenya,” a church representative, who did not want to be named, said.
“He went every year to visit his sister and nephew.”
There has been uproar on social media following Thursday’s incident.
While Kenyans are accustomed to roads being cleared for the presidential motorcade, some have questioned why the convoy was so big and moving at such speed.
Kenyan police said Mr Riches’ next-of-kin have been informed.
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