Inability to hear may have cost life of foreigner killed by Ruto’s convoy

A hearing impairment may have contributed to the death of a foreigner who was struck and killed by President William Ruto’s motorcade on Thursday.

Sources familiar with the victim said he had a hearing problem and may not have heard the sirens or hooting from vehicles in the presidential convoy.

“He had a hearing problem, and I think he did not hear the sirens,” a source revealed to The Standard on condition of anonymity.

“We are afraid to speak about the incident even though he’s familiar to us,” two witnesses added.

Eyewitnesses said the man was well known in the area and had supported many people financially.

“He helped us several times. He really liked my daughter and even paid my rent of Sh2,000 recently,” a witness said.

According to witnesses, he was a frequent user of the road, often visiting shops and a supermarket at Adams Arcade along Ngong Road. They claimed he was headed to the Greenhouse Mall at the time of the accident.

Another witness claimed the first vehicle in the convoy passed him and signaled a warning, but he may not have understood the danger.

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

Moments later, a second vehicle hit him.

“We screamed, but it was too late. I saw him fly and land on the tarmac. He was hit while moving toward the outer lane,” the witness recalled.

The victim has been identified in reports as 79-year-old British national Edgar Charles Frederick.

However, his family has declined to provide further details, saying they will issue a statement after finalising funeral arrangements.

His body has been preserved at Lee Funeral Home, awaiting an autopsy.