Chinese tour guide stabs and kills tourist in Maasai Mara

A Chinese tour guide at the Keekorok Lodge in the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Narok County on Monday night stabbed and killed his compatriot following a scuffle over a dining table.

The tour guide and a Chinese couple had argued about the occupancy of a dining table, with the guide insisting that he usually sat at that table.

He then brought out a knife, which he used to attack the couple.

The woman, who was stabbed twice in her chest and ribs, succumbed to her injuries as she was being rushed to Sikinani Health Centre.

Her husband survived with injuries.

More than 100 tourists who were having dinner and witnessed the incident scampered for safety, screaming as they rushed out of the dining hall.

Narok County Police Commander Jillo Galgalo confirmed the incident, which happened at 7:30pm on Monday night.

HUSBAND FLOWN TO NAIROBI

The police boss confirmed that the woman’s husband was on Tuesday morning flown to Nairobi Hospital for treatment.

Mr Galgalo said the attacker was arrested and was being held at the Narok Police Station.

A police officer who responded to the attack, but who requested not to be named, said the tour guide had asked the couple to vacate the dining table so he could sit there but they declined.

He had argued that it was his usual sitting place at the lodge, the officer said.

“He told them that he could not use any other table and they had to leave and when they refused, he started attacking them using a knife that he was carrying,” he said.

The lodge’s management was Tuesday holed up in a meeting and said they would issue a statement later in the day.