[2017] KEHC 8847 (KLR)
The court held that the prosecution failed to provide compelling reasons to deny the accused his constitutional right to bail. The mere seriousness of the offence, without specific evidence of risk of absconding or witness intimidation, is insufficient to deny bail. The pre-bail report did not support the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2017] KEHC 8847 (KLR)
- Parties
- Respondent: Republic; Applicant: Cedric Lisamulah Birembo
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Case 13 of 2017
- Procedural Posture
- Bail Application / Ruling on Bail Application Pending Trial
- Outcome
- bail granted with conditions
- Judges
- J Wakiaga
- Legal Topics
- Bail and Bond, Murder Charge, Compelling Reasons, Constitutional Rights, Pre Bail Report
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
More case intelligence is available
Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.
Parties
Republic
Respondent
Cedric Lisamulah Birembo
Applicant
Procedural Posture
Bail Application / Ruling on Bail Application Pending Trial
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the accused is entitled to bail pending trial despite being charged with murder.
- 2 Whether the prosecution has provided compelling reasons to deny bail to the accused.
- 3 Whether the nature of the offence alone is sufficient ground to deny bail.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that the prosecution failed to provide compelling reasons to deny the accused his constitutional right to bail. The mere seriousness of the offence, without specific evidence of risk of absconding or witness intimidation, is insufficient to deny bail. The pre-bail report did not support the prosecution's claims of a volatile situation or risk to witnesses. The court balanced the right to liberty of the accused against the gravity of the charge and found that the accused should be released on bond with conditions to ensure his attendance at trial and safeguard the interests of justice.
Court Disposition
bail granted with conditions
Orders
- The accused is released on bond of Kshs. 1,000,000 with two sureties of similar amount.
- The accused shall report to the Officer Commanding Umoja Police Station once every 60 days at a date to be set by the said officer upon release on bond.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
31 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI
MILIMANI LAW COURTS
HIGH COURT CRIMINAL CASE NO 13 OF 2017
REPUBLIC …………………………………………………………..…PROSECUTOR
VERSUS
CEDRIC LISAMULAH BIREMBO………………...……..…....….…..…..ACCUSED
RULING
1. The accused CEDRIC LISAMULAH BIREMBO is charged with the offence of murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code the particulars of which are that on the 15th day of March, 2017 at unknown time at Faith Medical Clinic Matopeni, Kayole within Nairobi County murdered DORIS OPUTINDA GAMBWA.
2. He pleaded not guilty and by a Notice of Motion dated 30/3/2017 applied to be released on reasonable bond terms. The application was supported by an affidavit sworn by the applicant in which it was deponed that he was a family man whose family depended on as a sole bread winner with a fixed abode and was therefore not a flight risk.
3. In response to the said application the State through PC MAURICE MUNANI stated that the deceased went to Faith Medical Clinic operated by the accused for treatment where she died. It was stated further that the post mortem conducted on the body of the deceased revealed that the same died due to failed procured abortion and that the accused was confirmed not to be a registered clinical officer.
4. It was deponed that there were likelihood of various charges being preferred against the accused and therefore there was possibility of the same absconding and or intimidating potential witnesses whose statements have been provided to the accused.
5. To assist the court in determination of this application and in compliance with the provisions of Bail and Bond Policy Guidelines and Victim Protection Act, the court ordered for a pre-bail report in which it was stated that the accused is married with three children in school with the last born being one year old. On the victim impact statement it was stated that the deceased was aged 30 years old, a mother of four children one who stays with his biological father while three lives with their maternal grandfather.
6. It was stated that the deceased family had accepted what happened despite the pain of losing a loved one and had moved on as a family and therefore were not opposed to the accused being released on bond.
SUBMISSIONS
7. On behalf of the prosecution it was submitted that more investigations were being carried out against the accused and that the situation on the ground was volatile. It was further submitted that the accused is likely to abscond since he was operating unlicenced clinic. On behalf of the accused it was submitted that the pre-bail report did not support the prosecution’s submissions that the ground was volatile and that even if it was, that should not be a ground to deny the applicant his constitutional right to bail and reference was made to the case of REPUBLIC vs CYRUS MWANGI KIMUNYI High Court of Kenya at Kerugoya CR Case. No. 13 of 2014.
ANALYSIS AND DETERMINATION
8. Under Article 49(1) (h) bail is now a constitutional right of every accused person which can only be denied where there are compelling reasons to be advanced by the prosecution on a balance of probability. In this matter the State had submitted that the accused is likely to intimidate witnesses but has failed to provide the particulars of the witnesses who are likely to be intimidated by the accused. The State has further submitted that the accused person is charged with a serious offence but it must be pointed out that the nature of the offence the accused is charged with on its own is not a ground upon which the court can deny him his right to bond.
9. From the material provided by the State I find and hold that the same has failed to provide enough compelling reasons to enable the court to deny the accused his constitutional right to bail.
10. Having taken note that the accused faces a charge of murder wherein the deceased lost her life and balance the lost to right to life against the accused person’s right to liberty during trial I am of the considered view and hold that the accused ought to be released on the following terms.
a)Bond of Kshs. one million (1,000,000/-) with two sureties of similar amount.
b)During the period of his trial the accused shall report to the Officer Commanding Umoja Police Station once after every 60 days at a date to be set by the said officer upon the release of the accused on bond.
DATED, DELIVERED and SIGNED at Nairobi this 22nd day of May, 2017
…………………………………….
J. WAKIAGA
JUDGE
In the presence of:-
……………………… for the State
……………….… for the accused
Accused …………………………..
………………………….. Court clerk