[2023] KEHC 4158 (KLR)
The court found that the subject, being under 17 years of age at the time of the offence, was not eligible to be sentenced to a corrective training centre under section 67(1) of the Prisons Act. The sentence imposed by the trial court was therefore unlawful. The High Court exercised its revisionary jurisdiction...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2023] KEHC 4158 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: MMM; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Naivasha
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Revision E065 of 2023
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Revision / Ruling on Application for Revision of Sentence
- Outcome
- Sentence set aside; matter remitted to trial court for lawful sentencing.
- Judges
- GL Nzioka
- Legal Topics
- Sentencing of Juveniles, Revision of Sentence, Prisons Act Interpretation
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
MMM
Applicant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Revision / Ruling on Application for Revision of Sentence
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the sentence of one year at Kamiti Youth Correctional and Training Centre was lawful for a subject under 17 years of age.
- 2 Whether the trial court was functus officio after passing sentence and unable to alter it.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the subject, being under 17 years of age at the time of the offence, was not eligible to be sentenced to a corrective training centre under section 67(1) of the Prisons Act. The sentence imposed by the trial court was therefore unlawful. The High Court exercised its revisionary jurisdiction under section 362 of the Criminal Procedure Code to set aside the sentence and directed that the matter revert to the trial court for lawful sentencing in accordance with the subject's age and the applicable law.
Court Disposition
Sentence set aside; matter remitted to trial court for lawful sentencing.
Orders
- The sentence of one year at Kamiti Youth Correctional and Training Centre is set aside.
- The matter is remitted to the trial court for sentencing in accordance with the law.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
21 paragraphs
MMM v Republic (Criminal Revision E065 of 2023) [2023] KEHC 4158 (KLR) (10 May 2023) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2023] KEHC 4158 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the High Court at Naivasha
Criminal Revision E065 of 2023
GL Nzioka, J
May 10, 2023
Between
MMM
Applicant
and
Republic
Respondent
Ruling
1. This matter has been brought to the attention of the court vide a letter dated April 19, 2023, from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution seeking for revision of the sentence meted out by the Hon. J. Ndengeri (SRM) (as she then was), now (PM) vide Chief Magistrate Criminal case No. E076/2023.
2. It is the prosecution argument that, the sentence meted out that, the subject do serve one year sentence at Kamiti Youth Correctional and Training Centre is incorrect and improper. The prosecution rely on the provisions of section 67(1) of the Prisons Act, (Cap 90) Laws of Kenya. The subject letter sets out the grounds for revision and prayers sought.
3. I have called for and perused the trial court’s proceedings and note that, the subject was indeed sentenced to serve one year sentence at Kamiti Youth Corrective and Training Centre. He was then taken back to the trial court where the prosecutor informed the court that he could not been accepted at the Institute due to his age. The court indicated that it was functus officio, advising that, the matter be referred to the High Court for revision.
4. I find that, as per the birth certificate of the subject indicating that, he was born on September 24, 2006 and the fact that, the offence was committed on January 11, 2023, he had not attained the age of 17 years. As such he could not have been sentenced to serve the sentence in a corrective training centre.
5. In that regard, and pursuant to the provisions of section 362 of Criminal Procedure Code, I set aside the sentence of herein and order that, the matter reverts back to the trial court for sentencing in accordance with the law.
6. It is so ordered.
DATED, DELIVERED AND SIGNED THIS 10TH DAY OF MAY 2023. GRACE L. NZIOKAJUDGE