[2019] KEHC 5803 (KLR)
The court found that the presence of multiple criminal cases against the accused at the same station, as acknowledged by both defence and complainant's counsel, raised legitimate concerns about the possibility of a fair and impartial trial. In exercise of its supervisory jurisdiction under Article 165(6) and (7) of...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2019] KEHC 5803 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: James Ngui Ngonga; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kitui
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Revision 20 of 2019
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Revision / Ruling on Transfer of Trial Venue
- Outcome
- Application for transfer of trial venue allowed.
- Judges
- LN Mutende
- Legal Topics
- Transfer of Criminal Cases, Fair Trial Rights, Jurisdiction of High Court
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
James Ngui Ngonga
Applicant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Revision / Ruling on Transfer of Trial Venue
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the multiplicity of cases against the accused at the same station compromises the right to a fair and impartial trial.
- 2 Whether the High Court should order the transfer of the criminal case to another court for ends of justice.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the presence of multiple criminal cases against the accused at the same station, as acknowledged by both defence and complainant's counsel, raised legitimate concerns about the possibility of a fair and impartial trial. In exercise of its supervisory jurisdiction under Article 165(6) and (7) of the Constitution and the statutory mandate under Section 81 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the High Court determined that the ends of justice would be best served by transferring the case to another court of competent jurisdiction. The court therefore ordered the transfer of Mwingi Criminal Case No. 504 of 2018 to the Kitui Chief Magistrate’s Court for hearing and determination.
Court Disposition
Application for transfer of trial venue allowed.
Orders
- Mwingi Criminal Case No. 504 of 2018 is transferred to Kitui Chief Magistrate’s Court for hearing and determination.
- Mention scheduled for 10th July, 2019.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
29 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT KITUI
CRIMINAL REVISION CASE NO. 20 OF 2019
JAMES NGUI NGONGA........................................APPLICANT
VERSUS
REPUBLIC............................................................RESPONDENT
R U L I N G
1. By a letter dated the 12thday of March, 2019, Hon. Kibet Sambu,Senior Principal Magistrate and Head of Station, Mwingi Law Courtshas reported to this Court that, James Ngui Ngonga,an Accused in Criminal Case No. 504 of 2018, is facing a myriad of cases including Criminal Case No. 192, 319, 58and 109 of 2018. The stated cases have been allocated to the two (2) Magistrates at the station and are pending hearing and determination. It is for that reason that he seeks my intervention pursuant to Article 165(6)and (7)of the Constitution.
2. Section 81(1)and (2)of the Criminal Procedure Codeprovides thus:
“(1) Whenever it is made to appear to the High Court—
(a) that a fair and impartial trial cannot be had in any criminal court subordinate thereto; or
(b) that some question of law of unusual difficulty is likely to arise; or
(c) that a view of the place in or near which any offence has been committed may be required for the satisfactory trial of the offence; or
(d) that an order under this section will tend to the general convenience of the parties or witnesses; or
(e) that such an order is expedient for the ends of justice or is required by any provision of this Code, it may order—
(i) that an offence be tried by a court not empowered under the precedingsections of this Part but in other respects competent to try the offence;
(ii) that a particular criminal case or class of cases be transferred from a criminal court subordinate to its authority to any other criminal court of equal or superior jurisdiction;
(iii) that an accused person be committed for trial to itself.
(2) The High Court may act on the report of the lower court, or on the application of a party interested, or on its own initiative.”
3. The report of the learned Magistrate presiding over the Lower Court indicate that both the Defence Counsel and Counsel holding watching brief for the Complainant appreciated the multiplicity of cases which called into question the issue of fair administration.
4. From the foregoing it is apparent that fair and impartial trial will be called into question which impacts on the question of ends of justice being met or not.
5. In the premises it will be necessary for the instant case (Mwingi Criminal Case No. 504 of 2018) to be tried by another Court of competent jurisdiction.
6. Therefore, I direct that the case herein shall be transferred to Kitui Chief Magistrate’s Courtfor hearing and determination.
7. Mention on 10th July, 2019.
8. It is so ordered.
Dated, Signed and Deliveredat Kitui this 27th day of June, 2019.
L. N. MUTENDE
JUDGE