[2009] KEHC 1955 (KLR)
The court found that the applicant was not arraigned within the constitutionally mandated 14 days, thus his pre-trial rights were violated. However, the Constitution does not provide for automatic acquittal or quashing of charges as a remedy for such violation. Instead, the appropriate remedy is a claim for...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2009] KEHC 1955 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Kenneth Kaiga Luka; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kakamega
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Miscellaneous Criminal Application 18 of 2009
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Criminal Application / Ruling on Constitutional Reference
- Outcome
- application dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Pre Trial Rights, Right to Liberty, Arraignment Timelines, Compensation for Rights Violation
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Kenneth Kaiga Luka
Applicant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Criminal Application / Ruling on Constitutional Reference
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant's constitutional right to be arraigned within 14 days of arrest was violated.
- 2 Whether violation of pre-trial constitutional rights entitles the applicant to acquittal and quashing of charges.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicant was not arraigned within the constitutionally mandated 14 days, thus his pre-trial rights were violated. However, the Constitution does not provide for automatic acquittal or quashing of charges as a remedy for such violation. Instead, the appropriate remedy is a claim for compensation against those responsible for the violation. The application to quash the charge and secure the applicant's release was therefore dismissed, and the criminal proceedings were ordered to continue.
Court Disposition
application dismissed
Orders
- The application is dismissed.
- The applicant is at liberty to claim compensation from the violators of his rights.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
16 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT KAKAMEGA
Miscellaneous Criminal Application 18 of 2009
KENNETH KAIGA LUKA.......................................... APPLICANT
V E R S U S
REPUBLIC ................................................................RESPONDENT
R U L I N G
In his application filed on 25th February, 2009 the applicant seek orders that the violation of his fundamental Constitutional rights to liberty be determined. The application is brought under section 84 (1), 72 (3) and 77 (1) of the Constitution.
The applicant contends that he was arrested on 3rd March 2007 and he was arraigned before court and charged with murder, vide High Court Criminal Case No.16 of 2007 on 11th June, 2007, a period of more than three months. The applicant further contends that his Constitutional rights were violated as he was to be arraigned before the court within fourteen (14) days from the date of arrest and that he should be released as the police contravened the law. He prays that this court “quashes the charge he is facing and declare them a nullity and he be set free forthwith.”
The State did not respond to the applicant’s contentions by way of replying affidavit. No explanation was given as to the correctness or otherwise of the applicant’s allegations. This being the case, I do find that indeed the applicant was not arraigned before court within 14 days as stipulated by the law. The applicant’s pre-trial Constitutional rights as enshrined in the Constitution were therefore violated.
Having found that the applicant’s Constitutional rights were violated, the next issue is whether the charge facing the applicant should be declared as a nullity and quashed resulting to the acquittal of the applicant. I do not find any provision in the Constitution which specifically states that a victim of violation of pre-trial rights should be acquitted of the charges facing him. Violation of the applicant’s rights does not automatically trigger acquittal. I am aware of the various decisions on this issue of violation of accused persons pre-trial rights but each case has to be determined on its own merit.
The only relevant Constitutional provision on this matter is section 72 (6) which allows victims to claim compensation from those persons who violated their rights. I therefore do find that the applicant’s Constitutional rights to be arraigned before court within 14 days from the date of arrest were violated. The applicant is at liberty to claim compensation from the violators of those rights. The application is hereby dismissed.The High Court Criminal Case No. 16 of 2007 shall proceed for hearing. It is so ordered.
Delivered, Dated and Signed at Kakamega this 23rd day of September, 2009
SAID J. CHITEMBWE
J U D G E