Man awarded Sh505,500 for injuries in van crash
A Kenyan court has awarded a passenger Sh505,500 in damages following a 2022 safari vehicle accident. The court held the tour operator, Bateleur Eagle Safaris Limited, liable for the driver's negligence.
Why it matters
This case highlights legal accountability for tour operators regarding passenger safety and the consequences of failing to defend civil litigation.
A passenger who suffered severe head injuries in a safari vehicle accident in Nairobi has been awarded Sh505,500 in damages.
Principal Magistrate Linda Mumassabba, sitting at the Milimani Commercial Courts in Nairobi, heard that Richard Oigara sustained the injuries when a safari vehicle veered off Murang’a Road and plunged into a ditch.
The magistrate entered judgment for Oigara against Bateleur Eagle Safaris Limited after the company failed to enter appearance or defend the suit arising from the July 6, 2022, accident near Guru Nanak Hospital.
Oigara had sued the tour operator seeking general damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenities, as well as special damages of Sh5,500.
He alleged that the company's authorised driver managed and controlled the motor vehicle negligently, recklessly and carelessly, causing it to veer from its correct lane and land in a ditch.
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