The High Court has ordered Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to pay Sh4 Million as compensation to the family of a 13-year old killed by a crocodile.
Mr Joseph Kalonzo, the father of the boy who was attacked by the reptile while fetching water from Tana River in March last year, sued KWS after the authority dismissed him when he reported the incident to them.
In his ruling, Judge George Dulu said there was enough evidence that the boy was mauled by a crocodile.
“It is on record that a report was made to the KWS about the incident and there is no evidence that they (KWS) even advised or directed Mr Kalonzo to pursue this matter through the compensation committee, yet the deceased was killed by wildlife,” Justice Dulu said.
The judge also stated that the victim's family was entitled to Sh4,032,000 under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2013.
Justice Dulu decline KWS argument that the court was not the best place to deal with the matter asking that the case be dismissed on the ground that it was an insult of court process.
The court heard that the victim's father reported the matter to the area Assistant Chief and the police before he went to the KWS.
He said that the wildlife agency gave him a form to fill his details and then was advised to go home. Kalonzo decided to sue when KWS failed to respond six months later.
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