[2024] KEHC 3199 (KLR)
The court found that the imposition of a mandatory life sentence was unconstitutional following the Court of Appeal's decision in Julius Kitsao Manyeso v Republic. The applicant's age at the time of the offence, his status as a first offender, demonstrated remorse, and positive Sentence Review Report were...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2024] KEHC 3199 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Omar Mwinyi Gongo; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Mombasa
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Miscellaneous Criminal Application E102 of 2023
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Criminal Application / Sentence Review Ruling
- Outcome
- Application for sentence review allowed; life imprisonment set aside and substituted with 25 years imprisonment from 8th November 2010, remainder to be served on probation for 3 years.
- Judges
- A. Ong’injo
- Legal Topics
- Robbery With Violence, Sentencing Review, Mandatory Sentences, Remand Period Credit, Probation Orders
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Omar Mwinyi Gongo
Applicant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Criminal Application / Sentence Review Ruling
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant's life imprisonment sentence should be reviewed in light of constitutional and statutory developments.
- 2 Whether the period spent in remand should be factored into the applicant's sentence pursuant to Section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
- 3 Whether the applicant qualifies for a non-custodial sentence based on mitigation and the Sentence Review Report.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the imposition of a mandatory life sentence was unconstitutional following the Court of Appeal's decision in Julius Kitsao Manyeso v Republic. The applicant's age at the time of the offence, his status as a first offender, demonstrated remorse, and positive Sentence Review Report were considered. The court held that the applicant was entitled to have the remand period factored into his sentence and that a non-custodial component was appropriate for the remainder of the term. Accordingly, the life sentence was set aside and substituted with a determinate sentence of 25 years imprisonment from 8th November 2010, with the remainder to be served on probation for 3 years.
Court Disposition
Application for sentence review allowed; life imprisonment set aside and substituted with 25 years imprisonment from 8th November 2010, remainder to be served on probation for 3 years.
Orders
- Life imprisonment sentence is set aside.
- Applicant to serve 25 years imprisonment from 8th November 2010.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
21 paragraphs
Gongo v Republic (Miscellaneous Criminal Application E102 of 2023) [2024] KEHC 3199 (KLR) (15 March 2024) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2024] KEHC 3199 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the High Court at Mombasa
Miscellaneous Criminal Application E102 of 2023
A. Ong’injo, J
March 15, 2024
Between
Omar Mwinyi Gongo
Applicant
and
Republic
Respondent
Ruling
1. The applicant Omar Mwinyi Gongo was charged and convicted for the offence of robbery with violence in Mombasa CMC Cr. C. No. 3292 of 2009. He was sentenced to suffer death which was later commuted to life imprisonment. Hearing of the applicant’s appeal in Mombasa H. C. Cr. A. No. 481 of 2010 did not proceed because the lower court file could not be traced since the appeal was filed.
2. The applicant withdrew the appeal in Mombasa H. C. Cr. A. No. 481 of 2010 to pursue the application herein for review of his sentence.
3. The applicant now seeks that this court factors the remand period in his sentence and considers his mitigation as follows: -a.That he was a first offender.b.That he was aged 21 years at the time he committed the offence and showed remorse ahead of his sentence by the trial court.c.That he has been in the prison facility for a period of over 14 years with considerably good reputation.
4. The Sentence Review Report by Mwanajuma Mzee, Probation Officer 1 from Kisauni Sub-County and filed on 22nd November 2023 was to the effect that the applicant has a supportive family that is ready to receive him back and have plans in place for his reintegration. It is recommended that the court considers placing him on non-custodial sentence of 3 years probation.
5. This court has considered the Sentence Review Report as well as the applicant’s age at the time of commission of the offence and the years so far served and hereby sets aside the life imprisonment which has been declared unconstitutional in the Court of Appeal case of Julius Kitsao Manyeso v Republic [2020] eKLR where it was held that imposition of a mandatory indeterminate life sentence, is an unjustifiable discrimination, unfair and repugnant to the principle of equality before the law under Article 27 of the Constitution.
6. To that end, life imprisonment is substituted with 25 years imprisonment to take effect from 8th November 2010 pursuant to Section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code. The remainder of the sentence to be served on probation for 3 years.
DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED IN OPEN COURT/ONLINE THROUGH MS TEAMS THIS 15TH DAY OF MARCH 2024HON. LADY JUSTICE A. ONG’INJOJUDGEIn the presence of: -Etropia- Court AssistantMr. Ngiri for the RespondentApplicant present in person