Lawyer Paul Gicheru's requiem mass held in Karen

Paul Gicheru, the Kenyan lawyer who was facing charges of witness tampering at the International Criminal Court (ICC), will be laid to rest on Thursday at his Bahati home in Nakuru County.

During a requiem mass held at the Regina Caeli Catholic Church in Karen area of Nairobi, Gicheru - whose death remains a mystery - was remembered as an extremely generous lawyer.

Gicheru's mother, who has previously expressed discontent over circumstances surrounding the death of her son, was conspicuously absent.

Her side of the family was represented by Gicheru's sister Esther Njoroge, in a mass thronged by neighbours and friends in the legal profession.

“Before you went to be with the Lord, you held my hand and said to me ‘Nobody can will ever separate us.’ Very unexpected at that moment, that makes me wonder if God sends messages through the people he’s calling,” said his widow Ruth Gicheru.

Gicheru’s son Allan Njoroge stated: “You were loving, composed and courageous. You were slow to anger and always gave numerous chances to people. You lived a life of selfless service, helping others even before you could help yourself, and not expecting anything in return.”

Homicide detectives previously said an autopsy conducted on the body of the late lawyer was inconclusive and that samples would be taken to the government chemist for further analysis.