Australian Prime Minister Mourns Teacher Gabrielle Maina, Who Was Killed in Nairobi

Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has condoled with the family of an Australian teacher who was killed in Nairobi while dropping her son at a friend’s house in Karen.

Gabrielle Maina, who hails from New South Wales in Australia was shot dead on Thursday morning in a botched robbery by assailants who used motorbikes to escape.

“It’s a tragic event and our prayers and love and condolences go out to her family and loved ones,” Malcolm Turnbull told 3AW radio on Friday.

“She appears to have been killed by a fatal gunshot wound during a robbery.”

Maina came to Kenya in September 2015 and has been working at the head teacher of Hillcrest Preparatory School in Nairobi.

The school expressed its condolences in a statement to Maina’s family.

“It is with great sadness and shock that we are writing to let you know that Gabrielle Maina, head teacher of Hillcrest Prep has been tragically killed whilst out walking this morning,” the statement said.

“She was returning home after dropping her son at a friend’s house.”

A report from the school's website said Maina relocated to Kenya to establish her family in the country “so her children can grow up with their extended family”.

The department of foreign affairs in Australia said it is providing consular help to the family of Maina.

She was shot twice on the neck and head before the robbers grabbed her phone and eloped.