Stabbed Chinese tourist had just checked in hotel, official says

A female tourist who was stabbed by a Chinese tour operator following an argument at a Maasai Mara hotel had just checked into the hotel a few hours before the incident happened.

Luo Jnili, 45, was in the company of her husband, Dong Yi, 47.

The Chinese couple was part of a larger group of tourists who were visiting the Mara to witness the wildebeest migration, among other tourist attractions in the wildlife reserve.

The couple’s visit was short-lived and ended tragically after they were attacked and stabbed by a Chinese tour operator, resulting in the death of the woman.

The tourists had checked into the Keekorok Lodge, located in the reserve, on Monday and they planned to stay for two days. It was going to be their first night at the lodge.

They had walked into the dining room for their dinner. Little did they know this would be their last time together.

Once in the dining room, the couple settled at a table that had been reserved for them. But just before they started having their meal, another Chinese national walked to the table demanding that they vacate. It was around 7:30pm.

Mr Lee Changqin, a tour leader, engaged them in an argument that it was his table and he would not sit anywhere else.

According to hotel’s Foods and Beverage manager Mr Charles Maigwa, the three had briefly engaged in a bitter exchange before the couple vacated the table and settled on the next.

The exchange, however, continued as the attacker followed them to their new table. Before the couple knew it, he had drawn a knife which he used to stab the woman twice in her chest and lower ribs.

More than 100 tourists who were having dinner at the time scampered for safety screaming as they rushed out of the dining hall.

“The wife was stabbed on the left breast and in the ribs, and the husband was stabbed three times in his stomach and on the hand,” said Mr Maigwa.

Ms Jnili succumbed to the injuries as she was being rushed to Sikinani health centre. Her husband was flown to Nairobi Hospital for treatment on Tuesday morning.

According to Keekorok Hotel Manager Mr John Kiruthi, the two were in a group of 19 Chinese tourists under the East African Golden travel Tour Company who were visiting the Mara as a group.

“The attacker booked to the hotel separately from the Chinese couple. They were not together and we are yet to comprehend what exactly happened that he went to an extent of stabbing the two,” said Mr Kiruthi.

He said Mr Lee Changqin, was leading another group of 13 Chinese tourists under the Kenya China Company who were also booked in the hotel for two days.

Mr Lee Changqin has been coordinating tour groups of Chinese nationals visiting Kenya for the last 20 years, according to Mr Kiruthi, and he was known well known among tour operators in the Mara.

“This guy is known all over the Maasai Mara. He has been coordinating this tourists for a very long time, he even speaks Kiswahili, and holds an alien certificate,” said the manager.

He said Mr Lee fled the hotel immediately after committing the crime and was arrested in the wilderness 15 minutes later by the Narok county game wardens and taken to Sikinani Police post.

“We acted swiftly, our nurse rushed to the hall and was assisted by an American tourist who is a trained doctor who was among the tourists in the hotel and we rushed them to Sarova health center,’ said Mr Kiruthi.

Documents obtained by the Nation from the hotel showed Mr Lee Changqin holds a foreign certificate SR No. 620035339, and stays along Woodland road, Hurlingham, Nairobi.

The lodge was 100 per cent booked on Monday night according to Mr Kiruthi and had more than 200 tourists at the dining hall.

“The visitors could hardly tell what was going on but the hotel acted swiftly after one of the staff reported the matter through a radio call,” he said.

The injured Chinese tourist was rushed to Nairobi Hospital where he's receiving treatment while the body of the deceased tourist was taken to a local mortuary.

Mr Chanqin was on Wednesday arraigned in a Narok court and will remain in custody for ten days to allow further investigations.

Mr Lee is expected to be arraigned in a Naivasha court after the investigations are concluded.