A police officer attached to President William Ruto’s motorcade has been formally charged with causing death by dangerous driving following a fatal crash that claimed the life of a British national along Ngong Road in March this year.
According to the charge sheet the accused, Police Constable George Mwangi Maina, was arraigned in a Nairobi court earlier today to face the serious charge stemming from the tragic incident that occurred on March 13, 2025, at approximately 12:30 PM, near Adams Arcade in Nairobi County.
The charge sheet alleges that Constable Maina, while driving a government-issued Toyota Prado, bearing the registration numbers GKB 790J/KCY 351H, operated the vehicle in a reckless and dangerous manner, endangering other road users along the busy Ngong Road stretch.
Tragically, the vehicle struck Edgar Charles Frederick Riches, a 79-year-old British national who was reportedly attempting to cross the road.
Eyewitnesses say the Prado was part of a high-speed convoy clearing traffic ahead of the presidential motorcade when it veered slightly off course and hit the elderly pedestrian.
Riches, a long-time Nairobi resident, died on the spot from severe injuries.
Emergency responders arrived swiftly, but their efforts were in vain.
The incident sparked widespread public concern, with questions raised about the safety protocols of VIP convoys and their impact on civilian road safety.
Human rights organizations and road safety advocates have since called for stricter regulations and accountability for state motorcade drivers.
Constable Maina appeared composed in court, dressed in civilian clothes.
The prosecution requested that the accused be remanded pending trial, citing the seriousness of the charges.
However, the magistrate granted him cash bail of Ksh 150,000, with conditions that he surrenders his driving license and refrains from driving any government vehicles until the case is concluded.
The court further ordered the immediate preservation of all CCTV footage and witness statements related to the crash.
The hearing has been set for later this month, with both the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) reportedly involved in parallel probes.
Mr. Riches’ family, speaking through a lawyer, expressed relief that formal charges had finally been filed.
“While this won’t bring Edgar back, we are encouraged to see the wheels of justice beginning to turn,” the statement read.
President Ruto’s office has yet to release an official comment on the case, although sources within State House confirm that the President was not in the vehicle at the time of the incident.
