In 1982, Timmons went to Kenya on missionary work, and helped oversee the construction of churches and schools in the Diocese of Nakuru.
Shortly before his death, Timmons protested the government's apparent practice of issuing new voting cards preferentially in areas that supported President Daniel arap Moi of the Kenya African National Union.
Despite poor rural communication, local police arrived quickly; one of them, Francis Kimanzi Mbaya, was a man whom Timmons had accused of corruption.
The diocese administrator accused the authorities of not giving enough attention to the circumstances of the death or evidence that pointed toward a conspiracy.
Mbaya was charged in the incident, but his trial was halted amid requests by Ireland and the European Union for further investigation.