Horror as British pensioner on charity trip killed by president’s speeding motorcade

A British charity worker on a sponsored walk was knocked down and killed by the Kenyan President’s motorcade travelling at “excessive speed”, an inquest heard. Edgar Riches, 78, was on a pedestrian crossing nearing the end of the charity walk when the VIP support vehicle “failed to yield” and sped through it.

The motorcade, which was taking President William Ruto to a public engagement in Nairobi at the time, did not stop to offer assistance to Mr Riches. The retired bank manager from Poole, Dorset, suffered devastating head and chest injuries in the collision and died instantly. He had been in the African country to see his sister and nephew and to raise money to sponsor building an orphanage or school in Africa.

The local authorities investigated the incident and the driver of the Toyota Prado (Land Cruiser) was charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

He pleaded guilty to the offence in a Kenyan court but avoided jail and instead received the equivalent of a £575 fine.

On Tuesday, Mr Riches’ daughter Pauline Olden told the inquest that “justice had not been served”.

She said: “My father was in the final part of his charity walk he does every year to raise money for the country he loved visiting.

“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 on March 13 last year.

The evidence 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).”

Mr Riches’ post-mortem revealed 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.”

Tributes were paid following his death to Mr Riches, who was described 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.”