THE BODY of a freelance photographer, who recently moved from Galway to Kenya, has been found in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
Police say Trent Keegan may have been murdered, or killed by a hit-and-run driver. The New Zealand-born photographer was found in a ditch beside a city centre road yesterday morning. He had suffered head injuries.
Eric Kiraithe, spokesman for Kenya Police, said formal identification was ongoing. “It doesn’t look like a robbery. He had about 4,000 shillings in his wallet . . . but for now we don’t want to speculate too much on exactly what happened while officers continue their investigation.” The body may have lain undiscovered for up to 10 hours. Officers were keeping an open mind on cause of death as they tried to trace his mobile phone.
A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed it had been contacted in relation to the discovery of a body in Nairobi, and that officials were providing consular assistance to the victim’s family. It is understood police found an Irish driving licence in the dead man’s wallet.
Mr Keegan had recently been working for newspapers and magazines in the west of Ireland, before travelling to East Africa in March.
Peter Harkin, a Galway-based photographer who employed Mr Keegan for three years, said he was a “beautiful person” who had taken up photography quite late but excelled at it.