[2022] KEHC 2915 (KLR)
The court held that the Supreme Court's clarification in the 2021 Muruatetu decision restricts the application of its earlier jurisprudence on mandatory sentencing to murder cases only. As such, unless the applicant's matter concerns a mandatory sentence for murder under section 204 of the Penal Code, the Muruatetu...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2022] KEHC 2915 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Michael Mulama; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kakamega
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Miscellaneous Criminal Application 99 of 2019
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Criminal Application / Directions Prior to Final Submissions
- Outcome
- Matter referred to original judge for finalization in light of Supreme Court clarification.
- Judges
- DN Musyoka
- Legal Topics
- Mandatory Sentencing, Murder Offences, Supreme Court Guidance
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Michael Mulama
Applicant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Criminal Application / Directions Prior to Final Submissions
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the Supreme Court decision in Muruatetu applies to mandatory sentences outside murder cases.
- 2 Whether the applicant's case falls within the scope of the Muruatetu jurisprudence.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that the Supreme Court's clarification in the 2021 Muruatetu decision restricts the application of its earlier jurisprudence on mandatory sentencing to murder cases only. As such, unless the applicant's matter concerns a mandatory sentence for murder under section 204 of the Penal Code, the Muruatetu principles do not apply. The matter, having been substantially handled by another judge and being at the stage of written submissions, should proceed before the same judge for finalization in accordance with the clarified legal position.
Court Disposition
Matter referred to original judge for finalization in light of Supreme Court clarification.
Orders
- The matter shall be placed before Hon. Lady Justice Farah SM Amin for finalization.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
14 paragraphs
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REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT KAKAMEGA
MISCELLANEOUS CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO. 99 OF 2019
MICHAEL MULAMA...........................................................................APPLICANT
VERSUS
REPUBLIC..........................................................................................RESPONDENT
RULING
1. This matter was placed before me for the purpose of giving directions, in view of the recent decision by the Supreme Court in Francis Karioko Muruatetu & another vs. Republic; Katiba Institute & 5 others(Amicus Curiae[2021] (Koome CJ&P, Mwilu DCJ&VP, Ibrahim, Wanjala, Ndung’u & Lenaola SSJJ), with respect to mandatory sentences, where it was clarified that the decision, in Francis Karioko Muruatetu & another vs. Republic[2017] eKLR (Maraga CJ&P, Mwilu DCJ&VP, Ojwang, Wanjala, Njoki and Lenaola SCJJ), had arisen from proceedings relating to murder, under section 204 of the Penal Code, Cap 63, Laws of Kenya, and the position stated in the said decision was intended to apply only to mandatory sentences with respect to murder cases.
2. I note that the matter has been handled substantially by Hon. Lady Justice Farah SM Amin, and is at the stage of written submissions. Let the matter be placed before Hon. Lady Justice Farah SM Amin for finalization.
PREPARED, DATED AND SIGNED AT KAKAMEGA THIS, 14TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2022
W MUSYOKA
JUDGE