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(KMOV) - A West St. Louis County ministry is mourning the loss of a man whose charity stretched across continents.

In his home George Hutchings is trying to write a eulogy for a friend on the other side of the world.

"He's the son I never had, man I love him, you could not help but love John Kihumba, he had this disarming smile, he was gentle, kind, he struggled but he walked like a man," Hutchings says.

St. Louisans will probably remember Kihumba, 42 as the man who collected the shoes back in 2001 for orphans in Kenya.

Earlier this week Kihumba was killed in his native country of Kenya.

A candidate for the Kenyan Parliament he was the victim of a car accident after being chased by thieves who looted his car.

Ten years ago, Kihumba came to St. Louis to study at Missouri Baptist University and quickly turned to a life of trying to help people.

"It came natural, he would see a person in need and then he wouldn't just turn his head he would do something to help," Hutchings says.

The latest chapter for Kihumba was to help by entering politics.

Hutchings says kihumba's life was always a struggle, but it was also inspiring.

"I have a loss, he brought to my life adventure, I would never have gone to Kenya without him, I would never have helped feed 21,000 kids," he says.

The circumstances surrounding Kihumba's death are still a mystery.

There is speculation that he was the victim of a political rival, Kihumba was leading in the polls.

To honor him, Eagle Wing Ministries now plans to make shoe collections for Kenya every year.