The Narok High Court has delivered a judgement for Sh 553 million against Keekorok Lodge in Masai Mara where a Chinese tourist was stabbed and died in 2016.

Luo Jinli 45, a Chinese foreigner had checked in the hotel accompanied by her husband, their son and other family members on August 8, 2016, where they booked for 10 days.

According to the statement presented before the court by Jong Yi the husband of the deceased, they arrived at the hotel at around 3:00 PM and were welcomed by their tour guide Bai Jiang.

On the night of that day, the family went to have dinner in a restaurant within the hotel which was almost full to its capacity where most of the guests were Chinese foreigners and they had a reserved table which was tagged with their names and they occupied.

In his statement, the husband of the deceased said he went to the buffer table to serve his food when he heard a verbal altercation in Chinese language between his wife and another Chinese man whom he could not recognize.

“I heard a commotion towards where my wife was and I saw her exchanging words with a man whom I did not recognize, although I came to know him later as Lee Changpin,” stated Jong Yi in his statement.

Jong could overhear a man repeatedly shouting profanities and abusive words in Chinese looking at his wife.

Mr Changpin claimed the table they occupied was not reserved for them and he became persistent that it was his (Changpin) table and they must relocate to another.

Luo Jinli the deceased never ceased to tell him the table was reserved for them because it was tagged and there was no compromise on that.

Immediately before the husband gets back to take his sit at their table, Changpin leaves and shortly comes back with a steak knife from one of the tables in the restaurant.

He came straight towards their table concealing the knife at the back and started to confront her again throwing a barrage of curses.

He attacked Jinli stabbing her in the abdomen and when the husband tried to intervene, the man became furious and turned against him leaving them with serious injuries.

The guests were attracted by the commotion and everybody was staring at them but when the wife screamed they intervened and that was when they realized the duo had been injured.

The wife was taken out into a waiting vehicle with the help of hotel staff and other guests where Jong was also helped and taken to a nearby dispensary to get first aid from a stab wound on his hand but later his wife was pronounced dead and Jong was transferred to Nairobi Hospital.

The deceased husband through his lawyer Nectar Maloba filed a suit before the high court in Narok against the hotel management for what he termed as negligence and failure of the hotel management to protect the deceased from the attack.

Mr Maloba argued that Luo Jinli was a guest in Keekorok Lodge and her safety was guaranteed by the hotel where they could have prevented the attack.

He added that the hotel security was supposed to get involved and protect against the fatal attack since the tourists were under their security whenever they camped on their premises.

In the suit, he prayed for general damages incurred from pain and suffering, damages under the fatal accident act, damages for the loss of a dependency, damages for loss of life’s expectation and special damages of Sh 2,065,100.

He also sought interest on damages sought to save for special damages from the date of judgment to the date of payment in full and interest on special damages from the date of cause of action is August 8, 2016plus the cost of the suit and any further relief the court may deem just.

In his judgement, Justice Francis Gikonyo stated that “the final judgement is entered for the plaintiff against the defendant” and he clarified that the defendant is hundred per cent liable.

The total damages incurred which will be paid to the family of the deceased amounted to Sh 553,274,960.

The driver in charge of the truck ferrying gas at Maxxis Energy Nairobi Limited in Embakasi which exploded has been arrested together with two other suspects.

A middle-aged woman has left the court bewildered after explaining how she was conned Sh 2.6 million by her spiritual father in a livestock rearing business.

In her testimony before the Milimani senior principal magistrate Robinson Ondieki, Yvonne Teeti Kaleti told the court that the trouble emanated from the trust she had in the pastor and she met seven years prior and could not disagree with the voice of God.

She told the court that Johnson Kintalel Nkuku the preacher and pastor of Dominion Church situated in Narok came up with the idea of supporting his spiritual daughter in a cattle rearing business where he could offer shelter to the purchased cattle.

They agreed that Yvonne would be sending money to him since he knew where to source the flock of about 100 heads of cattle despite being experienced in livestock farming.

Yvonne told the court that the transaction was mostly done via M-Pesa and in cash where no agreement was made but only witnessed by her friend who will appear before the court to testify.

According to the bank and M-Pesa statements presented before the court, they indicated that between December 8 and 10, 2020, she withdrew a total of Sh 1,020,000 from Co-operative Bank which was handed to the preacher witnessed by her friend,

“I trusted pastor so much and I could not disagree with whatever he said even to write an agreement nor to visit his place and see the purchased flock,” she said.

The court also heard that trust between her and the preacher grew strong to the point she bought a pick-up and the preacher told her God had spoken and wanted to hand the vehicle to him to pray for it and anointing, he stayed with that vehicle for six months claiming not to be done with the prayers until the DCI involved.

She continued to send money to the preacher until last year which amounted to Sh 2,664,109 when she requested to go and see the livestock.

The preacher started to behave weirdly giving reasons that he was not at home for ministry purposes and after she persistently insisted his phones went off,

“I noticed something was not right when I realized he was cutting me off and never admitted me to visit where he claimed the flock was,” the court heard.

Nkuku was charged that on diverse dates between March 1, 2021 and April 30, 2023, within Nairobi CBD with intent to defraud obtained from Yvonne Teeti Kaleti a sum of Sh 2,664,109 by pretending that he was in a position to buy her cows a fact he knew to be false.

Yvonne who was at a point overwhelmed by emotions urged the court to fight for her to recover the money lost in that scam,

“Your honor I beg this court to fight for me to get justice and recover my money,” she pleaded.

The court was adjourned to April 15, this year when the hearing will proceed.

• Patiala Distillers Kenya Limited, who are the brand owners, through their lawyers led by Danstan Omari, has filed a suit in the high court seeking orders to suspend the decisions made by KEBS for lacking authenticity.

• The lawyer is seeking conservatory orders saying that KEBS has failed to comply with the rules of natural justice.

• He stated that the organization is operating on hearsay because it can determine whether the allegations of producing sub-standard drinks are supplied to the Kenyans for consumption.

“The organization have laboratories and could have taken the samples and determined whether the the said brands meet the quality standard that KEBS sets.” Said Omari.

Cancellation of production of the brands is an infringement of justice because the company cooperated in the year 2009 when the owner spent more than Sh 30 billion on the plant, besides the company being a source of living for thousands of Kenyans.

Among the brands whose licences were cancelled are the Flying Horse and Diamond Ice.

Speaking to journalists at Milimani law court on Wednesday, the lawyer said that KEBS does not have anybody who has died or been injured or victims whom they can associate with to justify their actions,

“KEBS does not operate with rumours to produce anonymous complaint since they are equipped with necessary equipment to justify any claim,” said Omari.

Mr Omari said that the war against illicit brew should not involve political and business rivalry because there had been political pleas from those who wanted the company to shift shares to them.

Prior to the cancellation, on February 21, 2024, Karatina Patiala Distillers distributor’s store was invaded by police. It confiscated a consignment composed of two brands from the company. It was held in police custody where later, the area member of parliament, Eric Wamumbi and Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga led a group of women who destroyed the consignment in the eyes of the police.

The company is demanding a court to order the Inspector General of Police and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to prosecute Mathira Member of Parliament Eric Wamumbi and Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga for leading armed women to destroy the consignment, which was in the hands of police.

The samples from the consignment, which was composed of two brands, were taken by KEBS for verification of whether the brands met the set standards and taken to their laboratories, but the two legislatures maliciously destroyed the same before the release of results,

“KEBS is mandated to check the quality of products in the market and to justify whether they meet the set standards, but they are not supposed to rely on rumours,” insisted the lawyer.

Other defendants who are included in the suit are the Attorney General, Inspector General of Police, Commissioner General, Kenya Revenue Authority, and Chief Executive Officer of the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

Following the destruction of the liquor consignment in Karatina last week which was led by Mathira Member of Parliament and Nyeri Senator, the brand owners have filed a suit for malicious damage of properties and defamation.

This comes past few weeks after the war against illicit alcohol commenced in the Central Region following the death of more than 20 people in Kirinyaga two weeks ago after consuming illicit brew where several others lost their eyesight.

Patiala Distillers who are the brand owners of the consignment that was destroyed by the group of women who were led by Mathira Member of Parliament Eric Wamumbi and Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga disregards the act citing that they are licensed to operate the company bearing all the legal requirements.

The consignment was confiscated from the Patiala distributor Karatina branch where the police conducted an operation and claimed two among other brands from the company are illicit.

The two brands Flying Horse and Diamond Ice were said not to be licensed and hence not fit for human consumption and they were confiscated and held at Subcounty District Headquarters.

According to the letter served to IPOA, the company on February 20, 2024, supplied 400 cartons of Diamond Ice and 1000 cartons of Flying Horse

The owners of the brands were sermoned to respond to the allegations of selling unlicensed products and they provided the police with all necessary government requirements to prove their Innocence.

They provided them with the license of operation, certificate of Kenya Bureau of Standards, and certificate from Kenya Revenue Authority where they disregarded the same and the samples from the two brands were taken to the government chemist to prove the brands were not illicit.

Even before the results were released by the government, the two legislatures led a group of armed women into the police station and accessed the store where the consignment was without any breakage, removed the consignment while police were watching and it was destroyed.

The lawyer representing the company Danstan Omari said his client is guarded by the law he is operating legally and all the products they produce are tested and KEBS affirms to be safe for human consumption,

“The company started it’s operation in 2009 where the owner invested billions of shillings in the plant and it is legally complying with the requirements of the company’s act together with relevant bodies,” said Omari.

The lawyer said the act was illegal the two lawmakers proved the highest degree of ignorance of the law since they could have waited for the results from the government and if their allegations that the two brands were illicit then the government would take legal action against the company,

“We do not support the selling of illicit brew to the citizens and we totally support the erradication of it but let not this be taken as an advantage to the business rivals who want to eliminate other businesses for their personal gain,” stated Omari.

The lawyer also said that the government assured the private investors to safeguard their businesses for taking part in generating employment for the citizens and the economy in general through the collection of taxes.

The company which is situated at Mlolongo, Mavoko sub-county in Machakos County has employed 300 permanent workers and 250 casual workers daily has led to the development in the area.

The company has also sued for defamation and injury where irreversible damage was caused to their products and has negatively affected the company,

“Everybody now believes that Patiala Distillers are makers of illicit brew especially the two stated brands Flying Horse and Diamond Vodka,” Omari said.

The lawyer also stated that they have written a complaint to the International Policing Oversight Authority for the officers specifically in the Mathira constituency to be investigated.

He further added that they have written to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to carry the Investigation on the matter and forwarded the same to the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Senate for the two legislatures to be investigated.

Mr. Omari further stated that the company is licensed to operate its business in all counties within the country not the exception of the Central region where he said the war against fighting illicit brew has now turned out to be political due to business rivalry.

The directors and owners of the company up to date are yet taken to court after the allegations of selling unlicensed alcohol if at all the allegations are true.

According to the eyewitness from the People Daily newspaper who visited the company on Tuesday, Patiala Distillers is registered with the company’s act and has the relevant certificates of operation and it is bound with KEBS for the fitness of their drinks and it liars with KRA for tax purposes.

The Nairobi court has suspended the burial of former Meru businessman Silas Igweta after the second wife filed a suit in court citing that the will of her husband be honored on where he wished to be rested.

This follows an order by Milimani principal magistrate Gerhard Gitonga after the same was sought by the second wife to the deceased

The magistrate allowed a plea to block the burial of Silas Kamuta Igweta,100 at the home of his estranged wife, who they parted ways 40 years ago.

The magistrate allowed the plea by the children of the second wife to stop the burial which was scheduled on Saturday pending the determination where the remains of the deceased will be interred.

In a case filed under a certificate of urgency by lawyer Danstan Omari, the second wife of the deceased, Grace Rigiri Silas is asking the court to allow her to bury her husband with whom they tied the knot on July 27th, 1959.

Mr Omari presented to the magistrate a certificate of the wedding conducted at Kianjai Methodist Church in Meru.

” Grace and Igweta’s marriage was registered in the native registry in 1959. At all material tome to this suit and substitute , Grace cohabitated with her deceased husband as man and wife until his demise, and there she is the legal wife entitled to inter the remains, ”

Before the interment of Igweta, Grace is asking the court to order a postmortem to be conducted because they believe the death of Igweta did not occur from a natural cause.

In a brief ruling, the magistrate has raised substantial legal issues, which require to be heard substantively.

He directed Omari to serve the suit papers to Igweta’s estranged wife, Sarah Kathambi, Purity Kinya, and Miriam Makena, who have been named as respondents.

The court will give directions regarding the matter tomorrow (Wednesday).

The swimming pool attendant of Visa Oshwal Primary School in Nairobi Geoffrey Juma Opala will remain in custody for seven days after the court granted orders to hold him.

Clare Wafula a police officer and investigator attached at DCI Parklands police station pleaded with the court to grant orders to hold the suspect who was the swimming pool attendant in the said school situated in Parklands area within Nairobi county where a grade two pupil drowned in a swimming pool within the school.

The officer told the court that she wanted to hold Juma for suspicion that he committed an offence of neglect of official duty contrary to section 128 read together with section 36 of the penal code.

The respondent was arrested on February 22, 2024, for the suspicion of having committed the said offence leading to the death of 11 years pupil Abdikarim Ali on February 20, 2024, at 1530 hours while the respondent was on duty at the said Visa Oshwal primary school swimming pool.

The suspect was on duty when the CCTV footage captured the deceased walking towards the swimming pool passing him where later the body was discovered in the swimming pool.

It was his duty to ensure that all authorized persons were allowed to access the swimming pool under his guidance.

Juma intentionally neglected his duty to prevent the deceased who was captured on CCTV footage passed him walking towards the swimming pool.

When it was established that the deceased was missing he refused to disclose to the school management and parents that he had walked passed him towards the swimming pool.

After being pressed by the members of the family to state where the deceased was, Juma denied having seen him and later on, he alleged to have searched the swimming pool he discovered the body in the absence of family members and the school staff.

Preliminary Investigation shows that the deceased died of drowning which is yet discovered whether it was caused by somebody or accidentally.

Juma has been interrogated and has refused to disclose his place of abode and releasing him at this point it will be very hard to trace him if the investigation might lead to his prosecution.

The officer also said they fear the suspect might interfere with witnesses who are yet to be traced and who are his workmates.

He further stated that the suspect’s life would be in danger if released because the public is furious against him for the alleged offence.

In his brief ruling, the presiding magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo said the matter is of public interest and needs thorough Investigation,

“This matter is of public interest and thorough Investigation need to be conducted to determine whether the suspect was involved,” said the magistrate.

He granted orders for the suspect to be held at Parklands police station until March 1, 2024, when the suspect will be availed in court for further directions.