[2022] KEHC 2101 (KLR)
The court dismissed the petition because the petitioners failed to provide the trial court record, making it impossible to verify the sentence imposed or whether mitigation was considered. The court emphasized that, following the Supreme Court's decision in Muruatetu, the death penalty is not unconstitutional and...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2022] KEHC 2101 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: George Oluoch Dimba; Applicant: Charles Owino Otieno; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kisumu
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Petition 64 of 2020
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Petition / Judgment
- Outcome
- petition dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Sentencing Review, Mandatory Sentences, Mitigation Rights, Death Penalty, Life Imprisonment
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
George Oluoch Dimba
Applicant
Charles Owino Otieno
Applicant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Petition / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the mandatory nature of the death sentence imposed on the petitioners was unconstitutional.
- 2 Whether the petitioners' right to mitigation under Section 329 of the Criminal Procedure Code was violated during sentencing.
Ratio Decidendi
The court dismissed the petition because the petitioners failed to provide the trial court record, making it impossible to verify the sentence imposed or whether mitigation was considered. The court emphasized that, following the Supreme Court's decision in Muruatetu, the death penalty is not unconstitutional and may be imposed after due consideration of all relevant factors. Without evidence from the trial record, the court could not determine if the sentence was mandatory or discretionary, nor whether the petitioners' rights to mitigation were violated. The court refused to act on assumptions or unsubstantiated statements and found no basis to grant the relief sought.
Court Disposition
petition dismissed
Orders
- The petition is dismissed.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
29 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT KISUMU
CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 64 OF 2020
GEORGE OLUOCH DIMBA..................................................................1ST PETITIONER
CHARLES OWINO OTIENO................................................................2ND PETITIONER
-VERSUS-
REPUBLIC....................................................................................................RESPONDENT
JUDGMENT
The Petitioners, GEORGE OLUOCH DIMBAand CHARLES OWINO OTIENO have asked the Court to review the sentences which were handed down to them in CRIMINAL CASE NO. 37 OF 2010.
1. The Petition is premised upon the understanding of the Petititioners that;
“…….. the mandatory nature of (Death)sentence imposed on us is/wasunconstitutional.”
2. According to the Petitioners, their right to mitigate under Section 329of the Criminal Procedure Code, was rendered ineffective during sentencing, because of the mandatory nature of the sentence.
3. In support of the Petition the Petitioners filed a joint affidavit.
4. In the said affidavit, the Petitioners stated as follows;
“We, GEORGE OLUOCH DIMBA ANDCHARLES OWINO OTIENO, currentlyserving life sentence imprisonment atKisumu Maximum Prison do herebymake this oath and state as follows….”
5. On the one hand, the Petition was brought on the basis of the mandatory DEATHSentence, yet on the other hand, the Petitioners have deponed that they were serving LIFE IMPRISONMENT.
6. The Petitioners failed to provide any explanation or clarification why they were challenging the mandatory Death Sentence, yet they were serving Life Imprisonment.
7. It would have been useful to the Court, when determining this matter, to have been provided with the record of proceedings from the trial court. A perusal of the said record of proceedings would have enabled this Court to verify the specific sentence that the learned trial Judge had handed down to the Petitioners.
8. A perusal of the said proceedings would also have enabled the Court to determine whether or not the mitigation (if any), was given consideration by the trial court at the time of sentencing.
9. As the Petitioners did not make available the proceedings, this Court could not ascertain whether or not the sentence was handed down simply because it was the mandatory one.
10. It must be borne in mind that in the case of FRANCIS KERIAKO MURUATETU & ANOTHER Vs REPUBLIC, PETITION NO. 15 OF 2015, the Supreme Court held that the Death Penalty is not unconstitutional. The said Court made it clear, that after giving due consideration to all the factors governing the process of sentencing, a Court of law would still be entitled to hand down the Death sentence in appropriate cases.
11. It is therefore possible that if the trial court did sentence the Petitioners to death, that was done on the grounds that the circumstances prevailing in this case warranted the said sentence. I cannot take any action on the basis of assumptions.
12. The Court must be guided by the facts which are on record in the proceedings leading up to the conviction and the sentencing.
13. I decline to take action based on non-verifiable assumptions or statements.
14. Accordingly, the Petition is dismissed.
DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT KISUMU THIS 16TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2022
FRED A. OCHIENG
JUDGE