KEY POINTS:
Prime Minister Helen Clark said today she expected a thorough investigation to take place by Nairobi police into the slaying of photojournalist Trent Keegan in Kenya.
Keegan's body was found with severe head injuries in a ditch by the side of a main road in capital Nairobi on Wednesday.
The 33-year-old New Zealander had been in the Kenyan capital a matter of months, working as a photojournalist.
Miss Clark said her government expected Nairobi police to conduct a thorough investigation into Keegan's death.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) was providing assistance and advice to Keegan's family on the process of bringing his body back to New Zealand, she said.
"Our thoughts are with the family and associates of this talented young New Zealander during this difficult time," Miss Clark said.
The investigation into Keegan's death was expected to take some time, and MFAT would keep his family informed, she said.
Keegan grew up in New Plymouth, where his mother, Trish, still lives but for the past few years he had based himself in Ireland.
"I have had several phone calls from various people in Ireland and some of his friends over there - he was very well thought of," his father, Mike Keegan, said from his Auckland home.
Mr Keegan said he spoke to his son in Nairobi last week. He had been in Kenya since March 25 on a freelance assignment.
Friend Tim Gallagher said 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 police asking what he was doing, Mr Gallagher told Radio New Zealand.
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.
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".
- NZPA
