[2024] KECA 1370 (KLR)
The court found that although the applicant delayed over four years in seeking to file the appeal, he is unrepresented and likely remained in custody throughout, which may have prevented him from complying with procedural timelines. The respondent did not oppose the application, and the applicant raised arguable...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2024] KECA 1370 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Moses Mwenda Cypriano; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- Court of Appeal
- Court Station
- Court of Appeal at Nyeri
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Application E108 of 2024
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Application / Ruling on Application for Extension of Time to Appeal
- Outcome
- Application for extension of time to appeal allowed.
- Judges
- S ole Kantai
- Legal Topics
- Extension of Time, Criminal Appeals, Unrepresented Litigants, Delay in Filing, Exercise of Discretion
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Moses Mwenda Cypriano
Applicant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Application / Ruling on Application for Extension of Time to Appeal
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant should be granted extension of time to file an appeal out of time.
- 2 Whether the delay in filing the appeal is excusable given the applicant's circumstances.
- 3 Whether the grounds of appeal raised merit consideration on appeal.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that although the applicant delayed over four years in seeking to file the appeal, he is unrepresented and likely remained in custody throughout, which may have prevented him from complying with procedural timelines. The respondent did not oppose the application, and the applicant raised arguable grounds of appeal. In the interests of justice and exercising judicial discretion, the court granted the extension of time to file the appeal.
Court Disposition
Application for extension of time to appeal allowed.
Orders
- Time for filing appeal extended as prayed.
- Applicant to file appeal within twenty one (21) days of the ruling date.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
21 paragraphs
Cypriano v Republic (Criminal Application E108 of 2024) [2024] KECA 1370 (KLR) (3 October 2024) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2024] KECA 1370 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the Court of Appeal at Nyeri
Criminal Application E108 of 2024
S ole Kantai, JA
October 3, 2024
Between
Moses Mwenda Cypriano
Applicant
and
Republic
Respondent
(An application for extension of time to lodge Notice of Appeal and Leave to file appeal out of time from the Judgment of the High Court at Chuka (Limo, J.) dated 29th April, 2020 in HC Criminal Appeal No.13 of 2019. Criminal Appeal 13 of 2019 )
Ruling
1. The applicant Moses Mwenda Cypriano by Motion on notice prays in the main that I allow him to appeal out of time. He says in a supporting affidavit that he was charged with the offence of defilement at Marimanti Law Courts; he was convicted and sentenced to an undisclosed prison term; he appealed to the High Court of Kenya, Chuka, but the appeal was dismissed by Limo, J. in a judgment delivered on 29th April, 2020. The homegrown motion is dated at Naivasha Main Prison on 17th July, 2024 and he has attached a Memorandum of Appeal where 6 grounds of appeal are set out. He intends to argue on appeal that the ingredients of the offence of defilement were not proved; that the sentence awarded was harsh and excessive, among other grounds.
2. I have seen written submissions by the respondent which office has no objection to the application.
3. The principles that apply in an application for leave to extend time were well set out in the case of Leo Sila Mutiso vs. Rose Hellen Wangari Mwangi [1999] 2 EA 231 as follows:
4. I note that the applicant’s appeal to the High court was dismissed on 29th April, 2020 which is over four (4) years ago. The applicant has not explained why he did not appeal on time or within reasonable time. I note however that he is unrepresented and it is possible that he has not had benefit of a lawyer all along. It is also possible that he has been in custody all along and this may have handicapped him making it not possible for him to be able to keep timelines required by our rules. The respondent does not object to the application. The applicant has also raised grounds of appeal which I think he should be given an opportunity to advance on appeal.
5. I exercise my discretion and extend time as prayed. Let the applicant file appeal within twenty one (21) days of today.
DATED AND DELIVERED AT NYERI THIS 3RD DAY OF OCTOBER, 2024. S. OLE KANTAI...................................JUDGE OF APPEALI certify that this is a true copy of the originalSignedDEPUTY REGISTRAR