A British charity worker was knocked down and killed by the Kenyan President’s ‘excessively speeding’ motorcade, an inquest heard today.
Edgar Riches, 78, had been in Nairobi, Kenya, raising money to sponsor the building of an African school when he was hit by a Toyota Prado on a pedestrian crossing.
An inquest in Dorset this week heard that the car’s driver ‘failed to yield’ or offer the pensioner assistance following the collision on March 13, 2025.
The VIP support vehicle had been transporting President William Ruto to a public engagement when the crash occurred.
Retired bank manager Mr Riches, from Poole, suffered devastating head and chest injuries which killed him instantly. He had been in the east African nation visiting family while carrying out his charity work.
The driver was later charged by local police with causing death by dangerous driving.
He pleaded guilty to the offence in a Kenyan court but avoided jail and was instead handed the equivalent of a £575 fine.
Mr Riches’ daughter, Pauline Olden, told the inquest this week that ‘justice had not been served’.
‘My father was in the final part of his charity walk he does every year to raise money for the country he loved visiting,’ she said.
‘He was tragically killed while crossing at a designated pedestrian crossing by a driver going far too quickly.
‘The police car and ambulance did not stop and the driver was fined the equivalent of a £575 fine.
‘He was able to pay it and move on with his life but we can’t. Justice has not been served.’
Dorset Senior Coroner Brendan Allen said the Kenyan authorities had provided ‘very limited’ information about the incident.
The only evidence which the inquest received was a post-mortem examination report and a brief statement from the Office of the Inspector General for the National Police Service.
It said of the incident: ‘On March 13, 2025, at 12.30pm, a road traffic accident occurred on Ngong Road, Nairobi.
‘The Toyota Prado belonging to a Ministry of the Interior approached the designated pedestrian crossing as Mr Riches was crossing the road. The pedestrian sustained fatal injuries.
‘The government investigation reviewed CCTV footage and determined the collision resulted primarily from the driver’s failure to yield to the pedestrian and travelling at excessive speed given the location and road conditions.
‘The driver was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and he appeared before court magistrates on March 15, 2025.
‘He pleaded guilty and was fined 100,000 Kenyan shillings (£575).’
It was revealed in Mr Riches’ post-mortem that he died of ‘polytrauma’ injuries including severe head and chest blunt force trauma ‘consistent with a pedestrian and motor vehicle incident’.
Mr Allen, recording a conclusion that Mr Riches died in a road traffic collision, said: ‘There are always difficulties in obtaining evidence from outside jurisdictions.
‘Some countries are more forthcoming than others and what we have for Mr Riches are a post mortem report and a report in relation to the prosecution and outcome.
‘We have very limited detail in relation to the circumstances but in my view there is enough that I can conclude the inquest today.
‘Mr Riches was crossing at a designated pedestrian crossing and the driver of the motor vehicle failed to yield and was driving at excessive speed.
‘It was as a consequence of these facts that Mr Riches was struck and sustained the injuries that killed him on March 13, 2025.’
A tribute paid to Mr Riches following his death described him as a ‘quiet and unassuming but quite a remarkable chap’.
Ann Stribley, president of the Poole Conservative Association (PCA), who had known Mr Riches for about 50 years in his role as treasurer and trustee, said: ‘He was quite a remarkable chap, not many about like him these days, but quiet and unassuming and just got on with life.’
‘He was very dedicated to working for other people and the community, and things that he thought should be done, which is why he was in Africa actually.’
Mr Riches was involved with the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (Cafod), who said he was an ‘inspirational gentleman’.
Simon Giarchi, from Cafod Plymouth and South West, said: ‘We were incredibly sad to hear of the death of Edgar Riches, an inspirational gentleman who fundraised relentlessly for Cafod over decades.
‘He was tireless in organising hundreds of charity events year after year (including one just days before his trip to Nairobi).
‘Edgar was a kind and remarkable person who will be sorely missed.
‘His efforts, via his Poole parish, to help tackle injustice and inequality around the world, will continue to make a difference to many communities living in poverty.’
