Friends and colleagues of the late Trent Keegan, who was tragically killed in Kenya last week, were set to gather in Salthill last night in a tribute to the popular photographer.

Trent Keegan.

Thirty-three year old Keegan was to be remembered at the short service, which was set to take place as the Galway Independent went to press yesterday (Tuesday) evening on Salthill Beach at sunset.

Rev Patrick Towers of St Nicolas' Cathedral was to perform a blessing in Keegan's memory, while a number of Keegan's close friends were to recount their memories of the 'gentle giant'.

A book of condolences, which will be passed on to Mr Keegan's family, has been opened at Bold Art Gallery on Merchants Road and will remain at the gallery for the next month. Mr Keegan's funeral will take place in his hometown of New Plymouth in New Zealand on Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, Kenyan police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the photographer's death, amid claims that Mr Keegan had been concerned about being arrested for a story he was working on in the weeks before his murder.

It is understood that he had been approached by police in relation to a story he was doing on tribesmen being forced off of their land with the help of authorities. Keegan's body was discovered in a drainage trench beside a main highway in Nairobi last Wednesday morning. He had sustained severe head injuries.

The Galway-based photographer was last seen by a security guard walking towards the city of Nairobi on his way home after meeting with a friend from the Volunteer Missionary Movement last Tuesday night. Keegan had aspired to be a conflict photographer and had left Ireland earlier this year to continue his career in Kenya, depicting the injustice that was ongoing in the country.

"Trent loved the world. He had a feeling there were people less fortunate than others and he wanted to see if something could be done to right wrongs. I don't know if he was on a one-man crusade or not. But he had an affinity with people," said his father Mike Keegan earlier this week.

Since news of his tragic death broke last Wednesday, many people have paid tribute to Keegan's strong work ethic and outgoing personality. He had lived and worked in Galway for a number of years and was a familiar face around the city.

As well as working for a number of local newspapers, Keegan undertook numerous other projects in his capacity as a freelance photographer during his time in Galway, claiming a number of awards from the Irish Professional Photographers Association. He had also been involved in charity work with aid agency Goal in Darfur two years ago.

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