The family of a Chinese female tourist who was fatally stabbed in 2016 by a fellow citizen after a fight broke out over seating arrangements during dinner at Keekorok Lodge in Maasai Mara National Park has been granted Ksh.23 million in compensation by a Narok court.
In addition, Ksh. 1 million has been granted to the family of the late Luo Jinli, 45, in recognition of the emotional distress they experienced; Keekorok Lodge Masai Mara has been held fully accountable.
The late Luo Jinli's family filed a lawsuit against Keekorok Lodge Masai Mara, claiming that the lodge's negligence caused her to pass away.
"The evidence and circumstances of this case is an indictment of the defendant for breach of duty of care, quite contrary to their submission," the court noted.
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"The defendant under the law being the occupier of premises owes a common duty of care to its visitors which is a duty to take such care as in all the circumstances of the case is reasonable to see that visitors will be reasonably be safe in using the premises."
According to attorney Conrad Maloba's testimony in court, the family checked into the facility on August 8, 2016, and Bai Jiang was their tour guide.
When Jiang reached for the knife and stabbed the deceased, the family got into a verbal fight, and the deceased ended up with a knife wound on the material night.
"Chagpin left the table and returned with a steak knife from one of the tables in the restaurant. Mr. Chagpin used the knife to stab both the plaintiff and the deceased," reads the judgment.
The court noted that the deceased may have worked up to 60 years.
"Therefore considering the vicissitudes of life, a multiplier of 15 years would be appropriate," the court added.
In their defense, Keekorok Lodge Masai Mara said that adequate security measures were in place at all times, and despite having the opportunity to do so, the visitors failed to report the initial incident.
