[2019] KEHC 12171 (KLR)
The court held that, following the Supreme Court's decision in Muruatetu, the mandatory death sentence for murder is unconstitutional and courts must exercise discretion in sentencing. The court considered the period the petitioner had already served (19 years), the aggravating circumstances of the offence, and the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2019] KEHC 12171 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Nyando Makuta Mwambanga; Respondent: Director of Public Prosecution
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Mombasa
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Petition 234 of 2018
- Procedural Posture
- Constitutional Petition / Judgment
- Outcome
- Death sentence set aside and substituted with a jail term of 27 years from date of arrest.
- Judges
- DO Ogembo
- Legal Topics
- Resentencing, Mandatory Death Sentence, Right to Fair Trial, Mitigation and Aggravation, Custodial Sentence, Rehabilitation
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Nyando Makuta Mwambanga
Appellant
Director of Public Prosecution
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Constitutional Petition / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the petitioner is entitled to resentencing following the Supreme Court decision in Francis Karioko Muruatetu v. Republic.
- 2 Whether the period spent in custody should be considered in determining the appropriate sentence.
- 3 What is the appropriate sentence in light of the aggravating and mitigating circumstances.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that, following the Supreme Court's decision in Muruatetu, the mandatory death sentence for murder is unconstitutional and courts must exercise discretion in sentencing. The court considered the period the petitioner had already served (19 years), the aggravating circumstances of the offence, and the mitigating factors including the petitioner's rehabilitation and conduct in prison. The court found that the aggravating factors outweighed the mitigation and that a custodial sentence was warranted to reflect the gravity of the offence and serve as a deterrent. Consequently, the death sentence was set aside and substituted with a term of 27 years imprisonment from the date of...
Court Disposition
Death sentence set aside and substituted with a jail term of 27 years from date of arrest.
Orders
- The death sentence imposed on the petitioner is set aside.
- The petitioner is sentenced to twenty seven (27) years imprisonment from the date of arrest.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
32 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT MOMBASA
CONSTITUTIONAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS DIVISION
PETITION NO. 234 OF 2018
IN THE MATTER OF: THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA 2010 (SUPERVISORY JURISDICTION AND PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF AN INDIVIDUAL) HIGH COURT PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE RULES 2013
AND
IN THE MATTER: OF: ARTICLE 22(1) OF THE CONSTITUTION
AND
IN THE MATTER OF: ARTICLES 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 48, 50, 258 AND 259 OF THE CONSTITUTION
BETWEEN
NYANDO MAKUTA MWAMBANGA…………...............................PETITIONER
VERSUS
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTION..................................RESPONDENT
JUDGMENT
1. The Petitioner herein seeks a resentencing pursuant to the Supreme Court decision in Francis Karioko Muruatetu vs. Republic [2017] eKLR.
2. The Petitioner was tried and convicted for the offence of Murder in Mombasa High Court Criminal Case No. 14 of 2002 and sentenced to death which sentence was later reduced to life imprisonment. He has been in prison for 19 years after exhausting their Appeal processes. The Petitioner armed with a panga hacked Mr. Mizingo Munga Gube (relative) on allegations of witchcraft.
3. Mr. Fedha for the prosecution prays for a definite sentence of 35 years including the 19 years served due to the circumstances of the charge.
4. The Petitioner submits that he has reformed and he is ready to be re-integrated back to the society. He further stated that the murder was as a result of provocation on account of witchcraft and that he has the deceased family are in good terms.
5. I have carefully considered the issue at hand. Under the proviso to section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code (Chapter 75 of the Laws of Kenya), this Court is entitled to take into account the period the petitioner has spent in custody in determining the sentence. I have noted that the Petitioner has been in custody for approximately 19 years since his arrest. The aim of punishment is community protection, deterrence, retribution, rehabilitation, restorative Justice and reformation.
6. Though no Prison’s Progress Report has been filed as ordered by this Court on the 11/3/2019, I note that the Petitioner’s submissions and documents attached that the Petitioner has acquired grade 1 tailoring and dress making skills basic guidance and counselling and that he is of general conduct and behavior. He has also acquired grade 1 skills in sign writing and polishing during his incarceration.
7. This Court has considered judgments of Superior Courts that are intended to ensure consistency and fairness. In the Court of Appeal case of John Ndede Ochodho Alias Obago vs. Republic KSM CA Criminal Appeal 120 of 2014(2018) eKLRthe Court upheld a sentence of 30 years in a case of murder where the appellants assaulted the deceased several times causing his death.
8. I have carefully considered the foregoing, the peculiar circumstances of this case show that the aggravating factors outweigh the mitigation. I have arrived at the decision that the Petitioner should appropriately be punished for his crime. There is no dispute that the life he illegally took cannot be compensated. Murder must be properly punished to send a clear warning to the would be murderers that they would be severely punished.
9. I now hereby set aside the death sentence imposed on the Petitioner and substitute the same with a jail term of twenty seven (27) years from the date of arrest.
Right of Appeal in 14 days.
That is the Judgment of the Court.
Dated, Signed and Delivered at Mombasa this 19th day of December 2019.
E. K. OGOLA
JUDGE
In the presence of:
Mr. Fedha for DPP
Petitioner in person
Mr. Kaunda Court Assistant