[2023] KEHC 23598 (KLR)
The court found that the mandatory death sentence imposed on the applicant for robbery with violence was unconstitutional in light of the Supreme Court's decision in Muruatetu. The court was persuaded by precedent where a co-accused was resentenced to a definite term and held that the applicant's right to life and...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2023] KEHC 23598 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Nicholas Otieno Odero; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kisumu
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Miscellaneous Criminal Petition E014 of 2023
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Criminal Petition / Resentencing Application Post Conviction
- Outcome
- petition allowed; sentence commuted to 13 years imprisonment from July 25, 2023
- Judges
- MS Shariff
- Legal Topics
- Robbery With Violence, Mandatory Sentencing, Resentencing, Constitutional Rights, Right to Life, Human Dignity
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Nicholas Otieno Odero
Applicant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Criminal Petition / Resentencing Application Post Conviction
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the mandatory death sentence for robbery with violence is unconstitutional in light of the Supreme Court decision in Muruatetu.
- 2 Whether the applicant is entitled to resentencing based on the new jurisprudence.
- 3 What is the appropriate sentence for the applicant considering time already served and lack of evidence of self-improvement.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the mandatory death sentence imposed on the applicant for robbery with violence was unconstitutional in light of the Supreme Court's decision in Muruatetu. The court was persuaded by precedent where a co-accused was resentenced to a definite term and held that the applicant's right to life and dignity must be upheld. Taking into account the period already served (18 years and 6 months) and the absence of evidence of self-improvement, the court commuted the applicant's sentence to a definite term of 13 years imprisonment, to be computed from the date of the ruling, subject to further commutation if the applicant meets the requisite criteria.
Court Disposition
petition allowed; sentence commuted to 13 years imprisonment from July 25, 2023
Orders
- The petition for resentencing is allowed.
- The applicant's sentence is commuted to a definite term of 13 years imprisonment, to be computed from July 25, 2023, subject to commutation if criteria are met.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
25 paragraphs
Odero v Republic (Miscellaneous Criminal Petition E014 of 2023) [2023] KEHC 23598 (KLR) (25 July 2023) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2023] KEHC 23598 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the High Court at Kisumu
Miscellaneous Criminal Petition E014 of 2023
MS Shariff, J
July 25, 2023
Between
Nicholas Otieno Odero
Applicant
and
Republic
Respondent
Ruling
A.Introduction 1. The Petitioner herein Nicholas Otieno Odero was charged and convicted of the offence of robbery with violence contrary to Section 296 (2) of the penal code in Kisumu Chief Magistrate’s Court Criminal Case No 743 of 2004. On January 19, 2005 he was sentenced to death.
2. The Applicant subsequently lodged an appeal in Kisumu High Court Criminal Appeal No 12 of 2005: Nicholas Otieno Odero vs R which appeal was heard and dismissed.
3. The Petitioner has now petitioned this court for resentencing in light of the Supreme Court decision in Francis Karioki Muruatetu & Another vs Republic & 5 others (2017) eKLR.
B. Analysis and determination: 4. It is instructive to note that at all material times leading to the conviction of the Petitioner and the dismissal of his appeal, the statutory prescribed sentence upon conviction for the offence of robbery with violence was death sentence.
5. Presently, with the advent of the locus classic Supreme Court judgment in the case of Francis Karioki Muruatetu & Another vs Republic & 5 others (2017) eKLR which declared statutory mandatory sentences unconstitutional, the Petitioner herein has been given a life line.
6. This court has had the benefit of considering the precedent in Kisumu High Court Petition No 06 of 2019:Stephen Ochieng Rasta vs Republic (2019) eKLR, wherein Justice Cherere allowed a petition by the Petitioner’s co-accused and resentenced him to 15 years imprisonment on May 30, 2019. I am persuaded by that decision and I do hereby find that the Petitioner’s right to life and his human dignity as enshrined under articles 26 and 28 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 ought to be upheld.
7. I would not belabour restating the judgment in Muruatetu 1 as the same is binding upon this court.
C. Conclusion: 8. On the balance I do hereby find that the petition herein is well merited and for purposes of advancement of consistence and fairness in sentencing within our criminal jurisprudence, I do hereby allow this petition while taking into account the fact that unlike his co-accused, the Petitioner herein has not adduced any evidence of self improvement either academically or through acquisition of any skill or trade during this period of incarceration.
9. This court has duly taken into account the period 18 years and 6 months already spent in custody pursuant to the provisions of Section 333 (2) of theCriminal Procedure Code and I therefore commute the Petitioner’s sentence to a definite incarceration term of 13 years, which sentence shall be subject to the commutation in the event the Petitioner meets the requisite criteria thereof. The sentence to be computed from the July 25, 2023.
10. This file is marked as closed.
DELIVERED, SIGNED AND DATED AT KISUMU THIS 25TH DAY OF JULY, 2023. MWANAISHA S. SHARIFFJUDGE