How foreigner was killed by speeding car in Ruto’s convoy

The foreigner who was knocked by one of the vehicles in the Presidential motorcade has been identified as Edgar Charles Frederick. 

The Briton, aged 79, succumbed on Thursday afternoon at Adams Arcade along Ngong Road as President Ruto was headed to Langata from Kibera. 

An autopsy has revealed that Frederick suffered multiple trauma after he was hit and “possibly” run over on the left side of his body by the government vehicle. 

Government pathologist Dr. Daniel Zuriel, who conducted the postmortem at Lee Funeral Home, said he sustained severe injuries to the chest and to the head, which were completely crushed, as well as the left chest, which also suffered the same fate. 

“All the ribs on the left were broken. There was also a rupture of the aorta due to the compressional pressure which meant that it ruptured and poured a lot of blood in the chest. The cause of his death was multiple because we have the head and we do have the chest,” he said. 

He said Frederick also sustained other injuries, including a broken left hand, fractures on the left hip and a dislocated right knee. 

The pathologist further disclosed that it was “possible that he was ran over on the left side of the body,” adding that the vehicle might have reduced its speed since “we don’t see that he was thrown far.” 

Police said Friday that they had arrested the driver of the vehicle in question and released him on cash bail.

“Investigations are underway and the vehicle has been inspected, with necessary action procedurally taken. The driver of the government motor vehicle, attached to the Nairobi Regional Coordinator’s office, is out on cash bail awaiting arraignment in court,” said police Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga.

Earlier on Thursday, the police urged members of the public who may have information about the accident to record statements with the police to speed up investigations. 

However, some witnesses who knew Fredrick around the area told The Saturday Standard that the visitor had some hearing impairment.

“He had a hearing problem and I think he did not hear the sirens sounding alarm,”  one of the witnesses claimed, adding that, “We are afraid to speak about the incident even though he’s familiar to us.” 

Other eyewitnesses who spoke to The Saturday Standard said they knew him and had interacted with him for a some time, saying he was generous with his money and would come through for them in their needs.

“We know him. He has helped us severally. He really liked my daughter. He paid my rent of Sh2000 recently,” said a trader who asked us not to reveal his name fearing repercussions from the police who are investigating the incident. 

Other traders around Adams Arcade who spoke echoed the sentiments, saying he was popular with street families who relied on him. 

According to the witnesses, the British national was a regular user of the road as he usually visited the shops and supermarket at Adams Arcade along Ngong Road. 

They claimed that at the time of his death, he was headed to a building on the opposite side of the road called Green House. 

Another witness said he was knocked down by a second vehicle after the first one in the convoy passed but warned the victim of danger. 

“I was just excited watching the fleet of vehicles passing in their usual speed. The first one passed and warned him but it seems he didn’t take caution as the road was clear, with the vehicle in the President’s convoy appearing at intervals,” said the witness.

The witness said they shouted and wailed but it was too late. 

“Within a whisker, I saw him fly and land on the tarmac. He was hit while approaching the outer lane,” he said, adding that the vehicle did not stop after the accident. 

Vocal Africa Executive Director Khalid Hussein said Frederick was a retired banker and a philanthropist who helped many vulnerable families around the Kibera slum. The human rights activist criticised the presidential motorcade for “recklessly taking his life.” 

“It is not justified for you to drive at a very high speed even if it’s a presidential motorcade to the extent of endangering the lives of citizens,” said Khalid.

“This man was here to help Kenyans and we have testimonies from community members around Kibra that, you know, he had really helped many different people and now we’ve lost this old man due to reckless driving of presidential escorts,” he added 

Frederick’s death during the week of President Ruto’s tour seemed to emerge as the highlight of the chaos that has followed the visit, which was characterized by security lapses. Earlier in the week, criminal gangs robbed members of the public in broad daylight in the vicinity of the president’s visit along Thika Road. 

On Tuesday, daring gangs of hoodlums around Mathare and Huruma areas were captured on several videos attacking motorists and stealing their valuables.