UK Issue Statement Into Death of British Man Killed by Ruto Motorcade

A United Kingdom investigation has concluded that British national Edgar Riches died after being struck by a vehicle in President William Ruto’s motorcade in Nairobi.

The inquiry was led by Dorset Senior Coroner Brendan Allen, who confirmed that the 79-year-old died on March 13, 2025. 

According to the findings, Riches was crossing Ngong Road using a designated pedestrian crossing when he was hit by a government vehicle.

The coroner stated that the injuries suffered by Riches were severe and consistent with a high-impact road accident. 

He described the incident as a tragic case of a pedestrian being struck by a speeding vehicle that failed to stop.

During the inquest, it was revealed that the motorcade was transporting President Ruto to a public engagement in Nairobi at the time of the accident. However, none of the vehicles in the convoy stopped after the collision. 

There was also no immediate response from police officers or ambulance services at the scene, raising serious concerns.

Brendan Allen noted that conducting investigations involving incidents outside the UK can be difficult. 

He explained that accessing evidence from foreign countries often comes with challenges, especially when cooperation is limited.

Despite these difficulties, the inquiry relied on available evidence, including a post-mortem report and a statement from Kenya’s police authorities. CCTV footage was also reviewed as part of the investigation process.

The findings showed that the driver of the vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado belonging to the Ministry of the Interior, was at fault. The driver failed to yield to a pedestrian at a crossing and was reportedly driving at excessive speed.

Following the incident, the driver was charged in a Kenyan court with causing death by dangerous driving. 

He later pleaded guilty and was fined KSh100,000, which is approximately £575. The penalty allowed him to avoid serving a jail sentence.

The coroner officially ruled the death as a road traffic collision. He stated that although there were gaps in the available information, there was enough evidence to conclude the case.

However, the family of the deceased expressed dissatisfaction with how the matter was handled. Riches’ daughter, Pauline Olden, told the inquest that justice had not been served.

She explained that her father had been in Kenya for a charity walk, something he did regularly to raise funds. She described his death as both tragic and preventable, blaming the driver’s speed and failure to stop.

Pauline also criticised the response to the accident, saying that emergency services did not act quickly enough. 

She added that while the driver was able to pay the fine and continue with life, her family continues to suffer the loss.

The case has raised broader questions about road safety, accountability, and how such incidents are handled, especially when they involve high-profile government convoys.