Nairobi lawyer, Geoffrey Oriaro, who spearheaded EACC bosses' removal collapses and dies in Mombasa hotel

A prominent lawyer based in Nairobi died on Tuesday under mysterious circumstances in a Mombasa hotel.

An autopsy is underway to determine the cause of death amid claims that Geoffrey Oriaro collapsed and vomited while apparently swimming alone in the beachfront property.

Oriaro, who joined the bar in 2003, hails from Ugenya and has handled many land cases in Mombasa. His main practice is in Nairobi and he recently spearheaded the petition in the National Assembly that led to the recent removal of two Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission commissioners. By the time of going to Press, reports indicated that a preliminary autopsy suggested the lawyer drowned. But Oriaro's brother said he was a good swimmer. Police and relatives said Oriaro died on Tuesday after being found unconscious in a swimming pool.

A caretaker at Bamburi Chalet Hotel in Bamburi, Mombasa said yesterday he helped rescue Oriaro from the pool after he began gasping and kicking wildly at the deep end of the pool on Tuesday, prompting divers to pull him out.

"We pulled him out of the water at 3p.m. We tried to revive him and he vomited," said the caretaker, adding that the lawyer was then taken to AAR Hospital in Nyali estate. It was reported that he died at around 6p.m. on the same day.

Earlier, Mombasa County Police Commander Robert Kitur told The Standard that the lawyer booked in the hotel on August 9 and was set to check out on August 23, adding that "he died yesterday (Tuesday) after he drowned while swimming".

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 Kisauni OCPD Walter Abondo said "the body was found in a swimming pool at around 6.30p.m. yesterday (Tuesday)" adding that an investigation had been opened to establish cause of death and possible foul play.

"We are looking for people who were seen with him the day before and we are trying to find out if he went to swim in the morning or something else happened before the body was found," said Abondo.

Oriaro's relative who spoke to The Standard said the lawyer died at around 3.00pm on Tuesday in a swimming pool, days after attending the recently concluded Law Society of Kenya (LSK) annual conference in Diani, Kwale.

The relative who asked not to be named said the deceased called his Nairobi office in search of some documents, one hour before collapsing.

"He had been living at the hotel with his wife and children but his wife returned to Nairobi on Sunday, leaving the children behind," said the relative.

Mombasa LSK Chair Eric Nyongesa told The Standard he had received a report of the lawyer's death yesterday morning. He also confirmed that Oriaro participated in LSK annual conference.