The High Court has on Thursday awarded Sh31.9 million to the family of a Chinese woman who was killed by a hippo while holidaying at the Lake Naivasha Country Club in 2013.
The court ruled that the hotel, owned by Sun Africa Hotels, was to blame for the fatal attack.
Following the death of the 28-year-old woman, her family sued the hotel saying the killing had robbed them of their only child and breadwinner.
Justice Jacqueline Kamau said the evidence presented in court by the hotel that Luo Yi was taking pictures of a hippo when she was attacked was just hearsay since none saw her.
“The fact that her camera was on standby, if at all, was not proof that she was taking the photo of the hippo and could have taken the photos earlier and left it standby mode,” said Justice Kamau.
The judge ruled it was quite clear that the hippos had encroached onto the hotel premises and were a major threat to guests.
