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The genius of the Trzebinski family that gave Kenya it's most expensive artist

 Sbish, and (Top) Errol and Tonio and his wife Anna

An inquest into Tonio Trzebinski’s murder recently opened in Nairobi — making world headlines — 15 years after Kenya’s most expensive artist was killed in Karen, Nairobi. A single 9mm slug tore through his 41-year-old chest that October 16, 2001 as the adventurous playboy was visiting his mistress, dashing Danish model and game hunter, Natasha Illum Berg.

The Trzebinskis were from Gydnia, Poland, where they lost everything during World War II. They moved from Kazakstan by rail through Siberia’s frozen wasteland, then Palestine via Baghdad and on to Egypt, England and Kenya over 50 years ago.

Sbish Trzebinski: The complex, humorous, irascible and reclusive lover of classical music, jazz, art, cinema, aquariums and acting (with Nairobi City Players at Kenya National Theatre), relocated his entire family here after graduating from England’s Polytechnic School of Architecture in 1958.

In a 40-year career, Sbish, with partner Tibor Gaal, designed Traveller’s Beach, Severin Sea Lodge, Tropical Village, Two Fishes, Kaskazi and Jadini Beach hotels — Mombasa’s best- featuring their trademark geodesic makuti roofs, meandering swimming pools and sisal poles on mangrove and blue gum trees.

Shanzu’s Flamingo Beach Hotel was transformed into a marvellous aquatic amphitheatre from acres of useless coral reef, while Tanzania’s Kunduchi Beach was among the world’s 300 best of its day. The man who spoke Polish, French, Russian and Arabic, succumbed to diabetes in April 2005, with post memorial service refreshments at the Tamarind Village, his creation.

Errol Trzebinski: Wife of Sbish and mother of Bruce, a Malindi-based author of Elephant Droppings, Tonio and Gabriela, the British-based artist. The now 79-year old wrote Silence Will Speak (from which the 1985 Oscar award winning film, Out of Africa, was based), Kenyan Pioneers and Life and Death of Lord Errol besides eight cookery books and a defunct cookery column in the Sunday Nation.

Tonio Trzebinski: His art exhibitions were opened by Vice President, the late Prof George Saitoti, while his invite-only exhibitions in Naivasha featured a full orchestra, the finest fines. But hey! one of his life-size paintings cost between Sh1 million and Sh3 million.

The alumnus of England’s prestigious Slade Art School had predicted dying before 45. The lover of game fishing and surfing was cremated with his crash helmet, a surfboard and his favourite painting. Mistress Natasha wasn’t invited, but flew over the ceremony in an aircraft!

Anna Trzebinski: The German-born fashion designer (whose clients include supermodel Kate Moss and Princess Caroline of Monaco) fell in love with Tonio, three months after her wedding in 1988. Tonio also left his girlfriend for the London School of Economics graduate. They had two children. Being the daughter of Michael Cunnigham-Reid, the stepson of Lord Delamere, Anna’s marriage to Maasai ‘moran,’ Loyaban Lemarti, caused a stir in 2005.

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