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Friends of slain New Zealand photojournalist Trent Keegan have urged authorities to put pressure on Kenyan police to investigate his murder thoroughly.
Keegan's body was found with severe head injuries in a ditch by the side of one of Nairobi's main roads on Wednesday.
The 33-year-old New Zealander had been in the Kenyan capital a matter of months, working as a photojournalist.
He had been based in Ireland for the past seven years, but his parents are understood to be in New Zealand, and his sister in Britain.
Photos of Keegan on his website show a tall, laughing man, surrounded by family.
Tributes flooding internet forums describe him as a "gentle giant", a "true friend" and a "classy guy".
"At the start of this year, with enormous enthusiasm, commendable ideals and noble plans to highlight the injustices, conflicts and social issues which abound in Africa, he relocated to the `Dark Continent'," one friend posted.
His portfolio includes numerous photos from Africa, featuring bright eyed children, beautiful women clad in brightly coloured scarfs, and the people of Kibarani, who make their living scrounging for scrap metal through a rubbish dump.
His work had won awards from the Irish Professional Photographers Association.
Friend Tim Gallagher told Radio New Zealand that Keegan had recently complained about being harassed by police over a story he was doing about tribesmen forced off their land with the help of authorities.
Keegan had received a call from security guards who arrived with the police asking what he was doing, Mr Gallagher said.
He said it was vital pressure was put on the Kenyan authorities to investigate the death properly.
Keegan was last seen getting into a taxi after spending time with a volunteer from the Volunteer Missionary Movement.
His body was found about 10 hours later with serious head injuries in a drainage trench off the main highway running through Nairobi.
BBC correspondent Adam Mynott said from Nairobi police initially thought Keegan was the victim of a hit and run road accident.
However, they had now widened the scope and were investigating the possibility of foul play.
Mr Mynott said he had heard Keegan was visited by a security firm, but not that police had been involved.
It would be "very uncommon" for police to visit a journalist in such circumstances, he said.
Other reporters had said Keegan was researching a story about the sex industry in Kenya.
He was apparently also making inquiries into a safari tourism operation, linked to fraud rumours.
Mr Mynott said there were reports the people he was investigating were "not happy about the inquiry".
However, there were few firm details at this point.
Mr Mynott said it was important to remember Nairobi was a dangerous city.
"It is a city where if you are out and about particularly at night, you do run the risk of being attacked and robbed."
However, Keegan's wallet was found on him with money in it, so it did not appear to be a mugging for cash.
Mr Mynott said the level of police professionalism in Nairobi was "random".
"On occasions they have been professional, on occasions I certainly am aware that they have not been that professional."
It depended who was working on the case, and how busy they were. Crime was high in the capital, and police were very pressed.
He said "undoubtedly" diplomatic pressure would help in ensuring a thorough investigation took place.
A New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman said the ministry was in contact with the family, and providing assistance.
- NZPA
