British missionary in Aids campaign beaten to death in Kenya

Murdered: Brother Brian Thorp had been a missionary for 30 years

A British missionary has been bludgeoned to death by robbers at his home on the paradise island of Lamu, off the Kenyan coast.

Brother Brian Thorp is believed to have disturbed the intruders as they broke into his house next to the church.

The 77-year-old Catholic tried to fight off the gang, but was savagely beaten with a wooden stick in the attack last Thursday.

The gang fled with money and a music centre and sound system used for the church.

The pensioner was found dead by his housekeeper hours later. Police found the sound system in the grounds of Brother Thorp's house, but the gang has not been traced.

African police say they believe the motive for the murder was robbery. But members of Mill Hill Missionaries, who employed Brother Thorp, said he had made enemies through his campaign for Aids sufferers.

His high-profile lobbying is believed to have angered the government because it drew attention to the Aids problem on the popular tourist island.

Father Brian Oswald, at the missionaries' HQ in Maidenhead, Berkshire, said: "I'm not saying Brother Thorp's death was politically motivated but he had made a lot of enemies on Lamu over his campaign for Aids victims."

Another priest, Father Brendan Mulhall, said: "Brother Thorp had badgered the authorities for more medicine and when that didn't work, he wrote to the newspapers."

The missionary's brother Clement, his only surviving relative, said at his home near Paignton, Devon: "This is very serious and I have my doubts about it."

Mission Superior Father Anthony Chantry said: "Whoever attacked him clearly did not know him. If they had knocked on Brother Thorp's door, at any time of day or night, he would have given them food and money."

Brother Thorp, who was born in Derbyshire and spent his early life in the RAF, had been a missionary in West Africa for 30 years. He will be buried on Lamu on Tuesday.