Court awards Ksh.25.5M to family of Chinese tourist killed by hippo in Naivasha

A High Court in Nairobi has awarded Ksh.25.5 million as compensation to the family of a Chinese tourist who was killed by a hippopotamus while on tour in Kenya.

The deceased, 28-year-old Luo Yi, was attacked while on her way to her hotel room at Sun African Limited Hotel in Naivasha, then trading as Lake Naivasha Country Club.

Her family, through advocate Patrick Lutta, alleged that the incident occurred on April 21, 2013 at 10pm the same night she checked into the hotel resulting in injuries that led to her demise.

The hotel however maintained that the deceased provoked the hippo leading to the attack.

In her ruling, Milimani court Lady Justice Jackline Kamau said it was the sole responsibility of the facility to ensure that all guests are protected.

The court further said there was ignorance on the part of the deceased as witnesses for the hotel told the court how the deceased was attacked outside her room while she was busy taking photos.

The court also heard that the hippos had encroached the hotel room area since the electric fence was not in a working condition.