[2015] KEHC 5361 (KLR)
The court found that the trial magistrate failed to adequately consider the appellants' status as first offenders and their youthful age when imposing consecutive custodial sentences. Given that the appellants had already served more than three years in prison, and considering their rehabilitation and potential...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2015] KEHC 5361 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Nyomo Kaungu; Appellant: Samson Ngumbao Mutio; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Machakos
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Appeal 159 &160; of 2012
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Judgment on Appeal Against Sentence
- Outcome
- sentence reduced to period already served; appellants to be released unless otherwise lawfully held
- Judges
- LN Mutende
- Legal Topics
- Sentencing Principles, First Offender Treatment, Youthful Offenders, Non Custodial Sentences
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Nyomo Kaungu
Appellant
Samson Ngumbao Mutio
Appellant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Judgment on Appeal Against Sentence
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the trial court erred in imposing consecutive custodial sentences on first-time youthful offenders.
- 2 Whether the appellants were entitled to a non-custodial sentence given their age and status as first offenders.
- 3 Whether the period already served warranted reduction of sentence.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the trial magistrate failed to adequately consider the appellants' status as first offenders and their youthful age when imposing consecutive custodial sentences. Given that the appellants had already served more than three years in prison, and considering their rehabilitation and potential usefulness to society, the High Court determined that a further custodial sentence was unwarranted. The sentence was therefore reduced to the period already served, and the appellants were ordered to be released unless otherwise lawfully held.
Court Disposition
sentence reduced to period already served; appellants to be released unless otherwise lawfully held
Orders
- The sentence is reduced to the term already served.
- Each appellant shall be released forthwith unless otherwise lawfully held.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
22 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT MACHAKOS
CRIMINAL APPEALS NOS. 159 AND 160 OF 2012(CONSOLIDATED)
NYOMO KAUNGU…………….…………….1ST APPELLANT
SAMSON NGUMBAO MUTIO…………….2ND APPELLANT
VERSUS
REPUBLIC……………………………………RESPONDENT
(Being an appeal from the original conviction and sentence in Machakos Chief Magistrate’s Court Criminal Case No. 174 of 2012 by Hon. E. K. Too, RM on 20/5/2012)
J U D G M E N T
Nyomo Kaungu and Samson Ngumbao hereinafter “the 1st and 2nd appellants” respectively were charged as follows:
Count 1: Breaking into a building and committing a felony contrary to Section 306(A) of the Penal Code.Particulars of the offence being that on the night of 23rd and 24th January 2012 at Kenya Israel, Mumbuni Location in Machakos County within Eastern Province, jointly broke into a building namely a shop of Jonathan Muasya Kinuthia and committed a felony therein namely theft and did steal 1 dozen of blue band 100g each, 38 sachets each 12gms Cardbury Cocoa, 16 sachets Cardbury Cocoa each 20gms, 2 bottles of soda, 8 pieces of Topex, 2kgms wheat flour, 7 pieces of bar soaps, 18 pieces of Kiko, 10 pieces tablets of Tumbocid, 9 pieces of Panadol, 4 pieces of Vaseline, 3¾kgs of sugar, 3 exercise books, 1 packet of sweets, 15 pieces of Dawanol, 1 pair of shoes, 13 pieces of clothes, 1 dozen of Bic pens, 3 pieces of Kimbo fat 100gms each, 9 pieces Cowboy, 3 boxes of matchbox, 30 packets of tea leaves, 2 loaves of bread, 34 sachets of kahawa, 10 tins of Toss, 8 pieces of Beauty jelly, 53 sachets of Omo, 58 sachets of Sunlight, 5 pieces Geisha soap, 10 packets of milk, 1 dozen of Colgate, 2¾kgs of beans, 5 pieces of Chestcof tables all valued at Ksh.18,086/= the property of Jonathan Muasya Kinuthia.
Count 2: Breaking into a building and committing a felony contrary to Section 306(A) of the Penal Code.Particulars of the offence being that on the night of 23rd and 24th January 2012, at Kenya Israel, Mumbuni Location in Machakos County within Eastern Province, jointly broke into a building namely an office of Anastacia King’oo and committed a felony therein namely theft and did steal 1 Television make great wall, 1 DVD player make Sumsang, 2 sewing machines make Butterfly, 1 radio make Proclaimer all valued at Kshs.30,500/= the property of Anastacia King’oo.
In the alternative they are charged with handling stolen property contrary to Section 322(2) of the Penal Code.The particulars of the offence being that on the 24th day of January 2012, at Kenya Israel, Mumbuni Location in Machakos County within Eastern Province, otherwise than in the course of stealing dishonestly received or retained one radio make Proclaimer knowing or having reasons to believe it to be stolen property or unlawfully obtained.
The two (2) appellants pleaded guilty at the outset and were convicted. They were sentenced to serve three (3) years imprisonment on each count. By the court’s order the sentences were to run consecutively. Each appellant was hence required to serve six (6) years imprisonment.
Pursuant to leave of the court to appeal out of time they now mitigate on sentence. The 1st appellant in his grounds of appeal state that he was a first offender and under age. He asked for a non-custodial sentence. The 2nd appellant on the other hand who stated that he is 21 years old and asked the court to consider his age.
At the hearing both appellants called upon the court to consider interfering with the sentence as they were now rehabilitated and would be useful to the society at large.
The appellants herein were young adults and 1st offenders. It behooved upon the trial court to consider this particular fact. They would have benefited from a non-custodial sentence. Since they have served more than three (3) years imprisonment, I hereby reduce the sentence to the term already served.
Each appellant shall be released forthwith unless otherwise lawfully held.
It is so ordered.
DATED, SIGNEDand DELIVERED at MACHAKOS this 22NDday of APRIL, 2015.
L.N. MUTENDE
JUDGE