Sh100,000 death pay draws outrage

Kilifi people have reacted with anger and disbelief to the Sh100,000 paid to a couple as compensation for their one-year-old daughter killed by dogs. (KILIFI - Villagers in shock as dogs kill, eat child)

They accused the owner of a farm where dogs attacked the baby of taking advantage of the parents’ poverty.

“This is very unfortunate,” said former Kilifi County chairman Anthony Kingi.

“The owner knew that the family was not stable and with that amount, the issue would just come to an end,” Mr Kingi said on Thursday and questioned the resolution method used in determining the compensation.

Only a court could determine compensation in the matter, he stated.

The baby was mauled as she crawled after her father who had left home for the farm, where he is a casual worker. The farm is owned by Mr Mohamed Hajj Awadh.

The girl’s father, Mr Mwampa Kadodo, 27, said on Monday he and his wife accepted the settlement to maintain good relations with their employer.

“It is very painful but on the other hand that was God’s plan over which we had no control over,” he said.

Mr Kingi said Sh100,000 was little “for a young soul gone too soon,” arguing that the farm owner knew the parents would take the money however little it was due to poverty.

County ActionAid manager Lawrence Mwachidudu said he was saddened as a proper procedure was not followed during negotiations for the compensation.

“The money was very little compared to the life of the girl,” he told reporters in Kilifi on Thursday. “That negotiation could have happened under the order of the courts and not by sitting under a tree.”
According to Amani Charo, who works as a cleaner, the farm owner should have paid the couple Sh2 million.

However, nominated ward representative Tecla Muye said nothing more could have been done and the couple was right to take the money.