The lawyer of the Australian teacher shot dead in Kenya has urged authorities to investigate her death after fears that it was the result of a targeted killing.
‘The shooting happened when she was kneeling and someone was standing,’ the lawyer said.
Mother-of-two Gabrielle Maina, who is originally from Armidale, was walking home along Miotoni Road in the affluent suburb of Karen, in Nairobi, at about 10am on Thursday when she was gunned down.
Australian teacher Gabrielle Maina (pictured) was shot dead by violent thugs in Kenya
Local reports claim she was attacked by ‘thugs riding boda bodas (taxi motorcycle)’ and was left to bleed out on the road after a botched robbery.
A 9mm gun cartridge was recovered at the scene and local police are investigating the murder, but no-one has been charged in relation to her death.
‘It is important for them (Department of Foreign Affairs) to keep on pushing until it is certain as to what caused her death,’ Ms Maina’s lawyer told ABC Radio on Sunday.
Local reports claim she was attacked by ‘thugs riding boda bodas (taxi motorcycles)’. The armed men fled the scene with her purse (stock image of Nairobi pictured above)
Friends said Ms Maina was an ‘exceptional mother’ to her two young sons and ‘passionate teacher’.
‘She was a strong woman, she never let anything get her down and she overcame her hardships bravely,’ one close friend from Sydney told Daily Mail Australia.
‘She was passionate about education and her role as a teacher.
‘She was an exceptional mother, nurturing and did her best for her two young sons.’
Ms Maina was working as a head teacher at Hillcrest Preparatory, a local boarding school, teaching English, Drama and Italian.
The school released an email to parents confirming the tragic news.
‘It is with great sadness and shock that we are writing to let you know that Gabrielle Maina has been tragically killed whilst out walking this morning,’ the statement read.
‘She was returning home after dropping her son at a friend’s house. Condolences to Gabrielle’s family.’
Ms Maina had dropped her son off at a friend’s house and was walking home when she was killed
Ms Maina moved to Kenya late in 2015 so that her children could grow up with their extended family. She was a head teacher at Hillcrest Preparatory School
Ms Maina moved to Kenya late in 2015 so that her children could grow up with their extended family. She was a devout Christian.
She completed her postgraduate degree in education at the University of New England and taught at a number of schools across Sydney before moving to Kenya.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said it was likely Ms Maina was ‘killed (by) a fatal gunshot wound during a robbery on the 19th (of October)’.
‘She’s a teacher, it is a tragic event and, you know, our prayers, love and condolences go out to her family and loved ones,’ he told 3AW radio host Neil Mitchell.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed they were providing consular assistance to Ms Maina’s family.
‘Due to our privacy obligations, we will not release further details,’ the department added.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Kenya’s National Police for comment.
Ms Maina moved to Kenya (pictured) late in 2015 so that her children could grow up with their extended family