[2019] KEHC 10336 (KLR)
The court held that the Supreme Court decision in Muruatetu only declared the mandatory nature of the death sentence for murder under section 204 of the Penal Code unconstitutional and did not outlaw the death penalty itself. The court further found that the Muruatetu decision did not automatically extend to robbery...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2019] KEHC 10336 (KLR)
- Parties
- Petitioner: Charles Amodoi Murunga; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Busia
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Petition 3 of 2018
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Petition / Resentencing Application After Conviction and Appeals Dismissed
- Outcome
- Petition dismissed.
- Judges
- KW Kiarie
- Legal Topics
- Robbery With Violence, Death Penalty, Resentencing, Constitutional Rights, Mandatory Sentencing
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Charles Amodoi Murunga
Petitioner
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Petition / Resentencing Application After Conviction and Appeals Dismissed
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the petitioner is entitled to resentencing following the Supreme Court decision in Muruatetu.
- 2 Whether the mandatory death sentence imposed under section 296(2) of the Penal Code is unconstitutional in light of the Muruatetu decision.
- 3 Whether the Supreme Court decision in Muruatetu applies to robbery with violence convictions.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that the Supreme Court decision in Muruatetu only declared the mandatory nature of the death sentence for murder under section 204 of the Penal Code unconstitutional and did not outlaw the death penalty itself. The court further found that the Muruatetu decision did not automatically extend to robbery with violence cases under section 296(2) of the Penal Code, especially in the absence of a clear framework or compliance with the Supreme Court's directives by the Attorney General and other agencies. Therefore, the petitioner's application for resentencing lacked merit as the sentence imposed was lawful and prescribed by statute, and the constitutional challenge was not...
Court Disposition
Petition dismissed.
Orders
- The petition for resentencing is dismissed.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
28 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT BUSIA
CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 3 OF 2018
CHARLES AMODOI MURUNGA.........................PETITIONER
VERSUS
REPUBLIC.............................................................RESPONDENT
RULING
1. Charles Amodoi Murunga,the petitioner herein, was convicted for the offence of robbery with violence contrary to section 296(2) of the Penal Code in Busia Chief Magistrate’s Court criminal case 1554 of 2003. He was sentenced to death. He appealed to the High court and to the Court of Appeal where his appeals were dismissed. His now petitions to this court for and order for resentencing. His petition is premised on the following grounds:
a) That petitioner is currently serving life sentence after the death sentence was commuted.
b) That the mandatory death sentence that had been imposed on the petitioner was excessive, arbitrary and inhumane.
c) That the decision of the Supreme Court declared death sentence unconstitutional.
2. The petitioner premised his petition on Articles 165 (3), 159 (2) (a) and (b) 50 and 22 (1) of the Constitution of Kenya.
3. Article 22 of the Constitution of Kenya is on enforcement of the Bill of Rights. Since the Constitution of Kenya has not outlawed death penalty, the Bill of Rights must be enforced subject to the Constitution and other written laws. Article 26 (3) of the Constitution provides:
A person shall not be deprived of life intentionally, except to the extent authorised by this Constitution or other written law.
In the instant case, the death penalty imposed in the trial court and subsequently upheld by the superior Courts on appeal cannot be described as excessive, arbitrary and inhumane. This was a legal sentence prescribed by the Penal Code.
4. Although the petitioner did not specifically cite the decision of the Supreme Court, I am aware he had in mind the decision by the Supreme Court in the case of Francis Karioko Muruatetu & another vs. Republic [2017] eKLR.This is a decision that has been overstretched in a bid to try luck to the detriment of the court process.
5. The decision in the Muruatetucase is not only good law but very progressive one. However, courts have a duty to ensure that it is not misused. Briefly the facts were that the petitioners were arraigned before the High Court for the offence of murder. Upon their conviction, they were sentenced to death as decreed by Section 204 of the Penal Code. Their appeal to the Court of Appeal against both conviction and sentence was dismissed. Aggrieved by that decision the moved to the Supreme Court. The court made the following orders:
a) The mandatory nature of the death sentence as provided for under Section 204 of the Penal Code is hereby declared unconstitutional. For the avoidance of doubt, this order does not disturb the validity of the death sentence as contemplated under Article 26(3) of the Constitution.
b) This matter is hereby remitted to the High Court for re- hearing on sentence only, on a priority basis, and in conformity with this judgment.
c) The Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions and other relevant agencies shall prepare a detailed professional review in the context of this Judgment and Order made with a view to setting up a framework to deal with sentence re-hearing cases similar to that of the petitioners herein. The Attorney General is hereby granted twelve (12) months from the date of this Judgment to give a progress report to this Court on the same.
d) We direct that this Judgment be placed before the Speakers of the National Assembly and the Senate, the Attorney-General, and the Kenya Law Reform Commission, attended with a signal of the utmost urgency, for any necessary amendments, formulation and enactment of statute law, to give effect to this judgment on the mandatory nature of the death sentence and the parameters of what ought to constitute life imprisonment.
6. The decision in Muruatetu case addressed itself to section 204 of the Penal Code. Even if we assume that cases similar to that of the petitioners herein,contemplated cases like the petitioner’s in this case, I am not aware whether the order directed to the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions and other relevant agencies has been complied with. The Court was alive to the dangers of acting without a framework which ought to inform courts from what period this decision is to be effected. This will clarify the scope of that application and address the issue of retroactivity.
7. We have recently witnessed an avalanche of similar petitions since the pronouncement by the Supreme Court. My plea to the office of the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions and other relevant agencies is to move with haste to comply with the order of the Supreme Court so that the untidy situation experienced by courts on this subject is brought to an end.
8. I therefore find that the petition herein lacks merit and the same is dismissed.
DELIVERED and SIGNED at BUSIA this 6th day of February, 2019
KIARIE WAWERU KIARIE
JUDGE