[2021] KEHC 1211 (KLR)
The court found that the pre-bail report, which discouraged release on bond due to community tension, was dated February 2021 and circumstances may have changed by December 2021. The constitutional right to bond or bail is paramount unless compelling reasons are shown. The court determined that the accused is...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2021] KEHC 1211 (KLR)
- Parties
- Respondent: Republic; Defendant: Elias Kipchirchir Kimaiyo
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Eldoret
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Case 63 of 2020
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Case / Ruling on Bond/bail Application
- Outcome
- Bond/bail granted with conditions.
- Judges
- DO Ogembo, DB Nyakundi
- Legal Topics
- Bail Application, Pretrial Release, Murder Charge
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Republic
Respondent
Elias Kipchirchir Kimaiyo
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Criminal Case / Ruling on Bond/bail Application
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the accused is entitled to bond or bail pending trial for the offence of murder.
- 2 Whether the pre-bail report recommending against release remains valid given the passage of time and constitutional rights.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the pre-bail report, which discouraged release on bond due to community tension, was dated February 2021 and circumstances may have changed by December 2021. The constitutional right to bond or bail is paramount unless compelling reasons are shown. The court determined that the accused is entitled to bond or bail, subject to conditions that mitigate the risk of interference with witnesses or community tension. The court therefore granted bond with surety or, alternatively, cash bail, balancing the accused's rights with public interest and safety.
Court Disposition
Bond/bail granted with conditions.
Orders
- The accused is admitted to bond of Kshs.300,000/- with one surety of a similar amount.
- Alternatively, the accused shall file a cash bail of Kshs.200,000/-.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
23 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT ELDORET
CRIMINAL CASE NO.63 OF 2020
REPUBLIC......................................RESPONDENT
VERSUS
ELIAS KIPCHIRCHIR KIMAIYO......ACCUSED
RULING ON BOND/BAIL
1. The accused herein KIPCHIRICHIR KIMAIYO ELIAS was charged with the murder of Diusmus Kiprotich Kigen. He pleaded not guilty.
2. By Notice of Motion herein dated 15/11/2021 the accused now seeks to be placed on bond/bail pending hearing and determination of this criminal murder trial.
3. The accused’s case is that he:
He was arrested and charged with murder on the 26th October 2021. He has been in custody for almost a year now and no further arrests have been made regarding the other alleged suspects so it is unconstitutional for the prosecution to continue holding him in custody. The accused states that he does not hold any Kenyan passport neither has he travelled outside nor even traversed several other counties for whatever reason; that he shall comply with the Court’s directives regarding his release. He prays to this Court to commit him to reasonable bail and bond terms and undertake to present hi9mselfd to Court as and when he is required. He also undertakes not to compromise the witnesses and to live in a different environment from where the witnesses/suspects reside and not to communicate/discuss the matter.
4. The Court had directed that a pre-bail report be filed. This was done on 10/2/2021. The report states that there is tension in the village where the accused comes from especially between the family of the accused and that of the deceased. The report discourages the release of the accused person on bond as of that date.
5. In my view, however, the report was made in February 2021. It is now December 2021 and this Court is entitled to revise the views expressed in the pre-bail report, especially against the constitutional entitlement to bond/bail.
6. Against this constitutional backdrop, it is my view that the accused is entitled to bond/bail which I grant in the following terms:
i. The accused is admitted to bond of Kshs.300,000/- with one surety of a similar amount.
ii. Alternatively, the accused shall file a cash bail of Kshs.200,000/-.
SIGNED AND DATED IN ELDORET THIS 7TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2021
E. K. OGOLA
JUDGE
DATED AND DELIVERED IN ELDORET THIS 8TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2021
R. NYAKUNDI
JUDGE