[2020] KEHC 6849 (KLR)
The court exercised its revisionary jurisdiction to set aside the default custodial sentence imposed on the applicant for failure to pay a fine, substituting it with the period already served. This was justified by the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to decongest prisons, in line with...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2020] KEHC 6849 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Mary Wairimu; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nanyuki
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Revision 62 of 2020
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Revision / Order on Revision
- Outcome
- Default custodial sentence set aside and substituted with time served; applicant to be released unless otherwise lawfully held.
- Legal Topics
- Sentencing Revision, Default Sentence, Public Health Emergency
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Mary Wairimu
Applicant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Revision / Order on Revision
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the default custodial sentence should be set aside in light of the COVID-19 crisis and decongestion policy.
- 2 Whether the court has jurisdiction to revise the sentence under Article 159(2) of the Constitution and Sections 362 & 364 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Ratio Decidendi
The court exercised its revisionary jurisdiction to set aside the default custodial sentence imposed on the applicant for failure to pay a fine, substituting it with the period already served. This was justified by the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to decongest prisons, in line with constitutional and statutory powers. The order was made to protect public health and uphold the principles of justice and proportionality.
Court Disposition
Default custodial sentence set aside and substituted with time served; applicant to be released unless otherwise lawfully held.
Orders
- The default sentence of six months imprisonment is set aside and substituted with the time already served.
- The convict shall be set at liberty forthwith unless otherwise lawfully held.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
21 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NANYUKI
CRIMINAL REVISION NO.62 OF 2020
MARY WAIRIMU..............APPLICANT
VERSUS
REPUBLIC.....................RESPONDENT
(Revision of the Original Sentence dated 04. 03. 2020 in Nanyuki Criminal Case No.259of 2020)
07. 04. 2020
Before Justice H P G Waweru
In Chambers
ORDER ON REVISION
1. I have examined the trial court record.
2. The convict herein, MARY WAIRIMU, was on 04. 03. 2020 sentenced to a fine of 30,000= and in default to serve six (6) months imprisonment for the offence of Brach of licence contrary to Section 8(1)(b) & 66 of the Nyeri County Alcoholic Drinks Control & Management Act, 2014. She did not pay the fine.
3. Because of the current Coronavirus (COVID – 19) crisis in our country, and in an effort to de-congest the prisons, and in exercise of the powers of the Court under Article 159(2) of the Constitution and Sections 362 & 364 of the Criminal Procedure Code, I hereby set aside the default sentence and substitute therefore the time already served. .
4. The convict shall therefore be set at liberty forthwith unless otherwise lawfully held.
5. It is so ordered.
DATED AT NANYUKI THIS 7TH DAY OF APRIL, 2020
H.P.G. WAWERU
JUDGE.
DEPUTY REGISTRAR
NANYUKI HIGH COURT