[2020] KEHC 2153 (KLR)
The court found that the trial court failed to consider the applicant's lack of previous offences, his age, and his personal circumstances in sentencing. Given the applicant's mitigation and readiness for repatriation, the court held that the sentence should be reduced to the period already served and ordered his...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2020] KEHC 2153 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Farah Hassan Abdi; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Garissa
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Revision 110 of 2019
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Revision / Ruling
- Outcome
- sentence revised; applicant released for repatriation
- Judges
- CM Kariuki
- Legal Topics
- Immigration Offences, Unlawful Presence, Sentencing Principles
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
More case intelligence is available
Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.
Parties
Farah Hassan Abdi
Applicant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Revision / Ruling
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the sentence imposed on the applicant for being unlawfully present in Kenya was excessive or failed to consider relevant mitigating factors.
- 2 Whether the applicant should be released for repatriation after serving part of the sentence.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the trial court failed to consider the applicant's lack of previous offences, his age, and his personal circumstances in sentencing. Given the applicant's mitigation and readiness for repatriation, the court held that the sentence should be reduced to the period already served and ordered his immediate release for repatriation to Somalia.
Court Disposition
sentence revised; applicant released for repatriation
Orders
- The sentence imposed on the applicant is reduced to the period served as of the date of this ruling.
- The applicant is to be released to the O.C.S. Mandera Police Station for immediate repatriation to Somalia.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
22 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT GARISSA
CRIMINAL REVISION NO. 110 OF 2019
FARAH HASSAN ABDI.......................................................................APPLICANT
VERSUS
REPUBLIC........................................................................................RESPONDENT
RULING
1. The Applicant was charged with being unlawfully present in Kenya contrary to section 53(1) (j) as read with section 53(2) of the Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 30 of 2011.
2. Particulars being that on 29/4/2019 at Bore-Hole 11 area within Mandera Central Sub-County of Mandera County, being a Somali national, was found without any valid permit or pass allowing him to be present in Kenya.
3. He pleaded guilty to the offence and after mitigation he was fined Kshs.300,000/- and in default 4 years imprisonment.
4. His mitigation was that the person who employed him Maalim Osman brought him to Kenya. They were arrested together and he (Osman) bribed his way out. The sentence was effected on 8/5/2019.
5. He has now moved this court with a letter dated 9/7/2019 seeking court to revise sentence imposed in the trial court.
6. He says he is a poor boy though he does not say how old he is. He says he is remorseful without close relatives and was depending on neighbours.
7. On sentence the trial court never considered the fact that there was no record of the accused to whether he had committed previous offences nor the age of the person describing himself as a boy.
8. The person is a ready to be repatriated if court finds fit to order for his release.
9. In the circumstances of the instant case the court makes the following orders;
i) The sentence meted out to the applicant is reduced to the period served as by date of this ruling and order that he be released to the O.C.S. Mandera Police Station for repatriation immediately to Somalia.
DATED, DELIVERED AND SIGNED AT GARISSA THIS 28TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2020.
......................
C. KARIUKI
JUDGE