[2020] KEHC 4779 (KLR)
The court found that the accused, having been a first offender, had already spent close to six years in custody, and that there had been reconciliation and compensation between the families in accordance with Kamba customs. The pre-sentencing report was favorable, and the accused was considered to have learned his...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2020] KEHC 4779 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Republic; Defendant: Nzuki Kyalo Wambua
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Makueni
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Case 4B of 2018
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Law / Sentencing Ruling
- Outcome
- accused placed on probation
- Legal Topics
- Murder, Sentencing, Probation Orders, Pre Sentence Reports
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Republic
Applicant
Nzuki Kyalo Wambua
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Criminal Law / Sentencing Ruling
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the accused, having been convicted of murder, should be sentenced to a custodial term or placed on probation.
- 2 Whether the period already spent in custody and the reconciliation between the families should mitigate the sentence.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the accused, having been a first offender, had already spent close to six years in custody, and that there had been reconciliation and compensation between the families in accordance with Kamba customs. The pre-sentencing report was favorable, and the accused was considered to have learned his lesson. The court determined that a non-custodial sentence was appropriate and placed the accused on three years' probation under supervision, taking into account his age, single status, and the need to reintegrate into society. The consequences of breaching probation were explained to the accused.
Court Disposition
accused placed on probation
Orders
- The accused is placed on three years' probation under the supervision of the Makueni county probation officer.
- The consequences of non-adherence to the probation conditions are explained to the accused.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
20 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT MAKUENI
HCCRC NO.4B OF 2018
FORMERLY MACHAKOS HCCRC NO. 39 OF 2014
REPUBLIC..................................................PROSECUTION
-VERSUS-
NZUKI KYALO WAMBUA...............................ACCUSED
RULING ON SENTENCE
1. Nzuki Kyalo Wambuathe accused herein was charged and convicted of the offence of murder contrary to section 203 as read with section 204 of the Penal Code.
2. The prosecution indicated that the accused was a first offender. The court called for a pre-sentencing report which confirms that the accused has never been convicted of any offence prior to the present one.
3. He is a single man aged 30 years old. The deceased and accused were neighbours. The bone of contention between them was a woman (Pw1) who had already parted ways with the accused who refused to accept the reality.
4. The accused’s family and the village elder found the accused to be of good behavior and not a security risk. However, the assistant chief was of a different view. He said the accused was a habitual thief and so a threat to the family.
5. The report also revealed that the family of the accused and the deceased had already reconciled and negotiated on compensation according to Kamba customs. That the accused’s family had already paid the deceased’s family Kshs.45,000/= and an initial cow referred to as “ng’ombe ya uumo”
6. I have considered all that has happened between the two families. The accused has all along been in custody since he first appeared in court on 9th July 2014. He has therefore been in custody for a period of close to (6) years. This is not a short time and he is expected to have learnt his lessons.
7. I have equally considered that the accused is now aged 30 years and is single. He needs to settle down in family life. I therefore place him on three (3) years’ probation under the supervision of the Makueni county probation officer. The consequences of non-adherence to the probation conditions are clearly explained to him.
Orders accordingly.
Delivered, signed & dated this 25th day of June 2020, in open court at Makueni.
..............................
H. I. Ong’udi
Judge