Police seek to uncover identity of man killed in Ruto motorcade accident

A foreign national who died on Thursday after being hit by two vehicles in President William Ruto's presidential motorcade was well know to locals at Nairobi's Adams Arcade area.

Traders and taxi drivers operating in the area said he was popular with street families who relied on him for alms, including food and money.

The victim, said to be a Turkish national, was reportedly heading to the Adams Mosque for prayers when he was hit by speeding vehicles in the presidential motorcade, just minutes before 1pm. 

A statement released by the National Police Service spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said an investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances leading to his death. The police asked the public to volunteer information that may help with the investigations.  

A witness who spoke to Nation said she was a beneficiary of his generosity just the day before. She bought her family lunch and supper thanks to money she received from him, the woman recounted.

Traders and locals on Ngong Road say they were shocked by the brutal manner in which the foreigner’s life was ended.

Accounts by witnesses who spoke to Nation said two vehicles, allegedly escorting President Ruto to Kibra for his Nairobi tour, were speeding through traffic when one of them hit the middle-aged pedestrian. A second vehicle in the presidential entourage ran over him, killing him on the spot.

Witnesses who knew him say he had a hearing impairment.

“He was crossing the road… he had an issue with his hearing and must have missed the shouts by the traffic officer who was clearing the road. Before we knew it, he was flying in the air after being hit by one of the escort cars before being crushed by another one,” a witness who did not wish to be named said.

Traffic officers based at Kilimani Police Station took his body to the Nairobi Funeral Home. No one had claimed the body by close of business Thursday.

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