[2021] KEHC 4602 (KLR)
The court held that the petitioner, though not the biological father as established by the DNA report, is the only known caregiver and thus has locus standi to bring proceedings for the protection of the minor. The court found that the DCI and DPP had not fully complied with its earlier orders to investigate the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2021] KEHC 4602 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: CLS (Suing as Guardian/Father and next Friend of the Minor); Respondent: George Mwangi; Respondent: Children Officer Likoni Sub-County Mombasa; Respondent: Director of National Registration Bureau Nairobi
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Mombasa
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Constitutional Petition 63 of 2016
- Procedural Posture
- Constitutional Petition / Post Judgment Application for Contempt and Further Orders
- Outcome
- Application allowed in part; further compliance and investigation ordered.
- Judges
- DO Ogembo
- Legal Topics
- Locus Standi of Guardians, Defilement and Child Marriage, Contempt of Court Orders, Investigation of Criminal Conduct, Rights of Minors, Supervisory Jurisdiction
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
CLS (Suing as Guardian/Father and next Friend of the Minor)
Applicant
George Mwangi
Respondent
Children Officer Likoni Sub-County Mombasa
Respondent
Director of National Registration Bureau Nairobi
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Constitutional Petition / Post Judgment Application for Contempt and Further Orders
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the petitioner has locus standi to bring proceedings on behalf of the minor despite not being the biological father.
- 2 Whether the DCI and DPP are in contempt of court for failing to comply with court orders issued on 30/4/2019.
- 3 Whether the DNA report should be disregarded due to alleged procedural flaws.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that the petitioner, though not the biological father as established by the DNA report, is the only known caregiver and thus has locus standi to bring proceedings for the protection of the minor. The court found that the DCI and DPP had not fully complied with its earlier orders to investigate the circumstances under which the minor obtained a national identity card while underage and the criminal conduct of the 1st respondent in marrying a minor. The court directed that these investigations be completed within 90 days and a report filed for formal closure. The court declined to disregard the DNA report, finding its result immaterial to the petitioner's standing. The court...
Court Disposition
Application allowed in part; further compliance and investigation ordered.
Orders
- The DCI and DPP are directed to complete investigations into how the minor obtained a national identity card while underage and the circumstances of her underage marriage within 90 days and file a report in court.
- Mention set for 2/11/2021 for formal closure of the matter.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
44 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT MOMBASA
CONSTITUTIONAL & JUDICIAL REVIEW DIVISION
CONSTITUTIONAL PETITION NO. 63 OF 2016
IN THE MATTER OF: THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA 2010 (SUPERVISORY JURISDICTION AND PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF THE INDIVIDUAL) HIGH COURT PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE RULES 2013 ARTICLE 22, 23, 159, 165 AND 53 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA
AND
IN THE MATTER OF: THE SEXUAL OFFENES ACTS AS REVISED 2007 LAWS OF KENYA
AND
IN THE MATTER OF: DEFILEMENT CAP 92 AT NO. 8 (3) OF 2001 LAWS OF KENYA
AND
IN THE MATTER OF ZC..................................................................................................MINOR
CLS (Suing as Guardian/Father and nextFriend of the Minor).........................PETITIONER
VERSUS
1. GEORGE MWANGI
2. CHILDREN OFFICER LIKONI SUB-COUNTY MOMBASA
3. DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL REGISTRATION BUREAU
NAIROBI............................................................................................................RESPONDENTS
FURTHER ORDERS PURSUANT TO JUDGMENT HEREIN DATED 30/4/2019 AND NOTICE OF MOTION DATED 28/9/2020
1. The Judgment in the petition herein was rendered on 30/4/2019. In the said Judgment the Court, inter-a-lia made the following further orders:
(i) The DCI and the DPP to carry out investigations on how the minor secured national identity card.
(ii) The DCI and the DPP to investigate the role of the 1st Respondent in how the minor secured identity card.
(iii) The DCI to arrest and charge the 1st Respondent with relevant offences revealed in their investigations, if any or at all.
(iv) The minor to be arrested and brought to this Court at any time for directions on the matter.
(v) Mention on 30th May, 2019.
2. These orders are a follow-up on the above Judgment.
3. However, subsequent to the said Judgment, the Court ordered that a DNA examination be carried out to establish whether or not the Petitioner is the biological father of the minor herein. It was alleged by the DPP, the Attorney General and the Respondent that if the Petitioner is not the father of the minor herein then by that fact alone the Petitioner has no locus standi to bring this petition.
4. Further, the Petitioner also filed a Notice of Motion application on 28/9/2020 seeking the following orders:
1. That the orders given by this court ON 30/4/2019 have been disobeyed in totality by the DCI and the DPP and therefore they should be cited for contempt of court orders and action should be taken against them under the applicable law under the Civil Procedure Act of the Laws of Kenya.
2. That the DNA report which has been put on record in this matter was done through a flawed process and should be disregarded in the absence of the DCI’s report on how the minor obtained the national identity card when she was underage.
3. Cost of the application be provided for.
5. The motion is premised on the grounds that this Court has the teeth to deal with people or individuals who have defied and or broken the law by punishing them heavily; that this Court issued orders on 30/4/2019 to the DCI and the DPP to do some tasks and file the same in this Court, which they have not done, and thereby disobeying this Court’s orders; that the Petitioner came across a DNA report in this file on 31/8/2020 when he was perusing it; that this DNA report was placed on court file unprocedurally, and should be expunged from record.
6. From the outset it is clear that the Petitioner’s aforesaid Notice of Motion application arose from the Judgment of this Court delivered on 30/4/2019, and the said DNA Report.
7. The results of the said DNA was filed in this Court on 27/7/2020. The conclusion is that the Petitioner herein, Cornel Shisanya, is EXCLUDED as the biological father of ZN, the minor herein.
8. Although the Petitioner has challenged the result of the aid DNA, this Court believes that the result of the DNA is not material consideration in the issues raised herein. Granted that the Petitioner is not the father of the said minor, the Petitioner is still, being a person is pari-parentus, and the only known care giver of the minor, the Petitioner has the right to bring any proceedings to protect the minor. Therefore, the allegations by the DPP, the AG and the respondent that because the Petitioner is not the biological father of the minor he cannot bring these proceedings is not correct. The Petitioner is rightfully in this Court.
9. Further, the Petitioner has alleged certain apparently criminal conduct of the Respondent pertaining to the said minor. Indeed, the Court at paragraph 14 of the said Judgment found out that the Zainab was a minor, and that the Respondent purported to marry a minor and has even had a child with the minor. It is clear that the 1st Respondent married a minor in violation of the law. Paragraphs 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 of the said Judgment manifest criminal conduct on the part of the 1st Respondent. Indeed, these are the conduct the Court directed under paragraph 23 to be investigated and appropriate action taken.
10. While it is clear that the 1st Respondent now live as husband and wife with the minor – who has since come of age – this Court cannot close its eyes to the clear violation of the law by the 1st Respondent. While some of the orders given in the said Judgment have been overtaken by events, for example a declaration that the minor be put in a Children home for counseling or declaration that the 1st Respondent should not be seen near the minor at all times – this Court directs full compliance with the Judgment by the AG and the DPP to ascertain the circumstances under which the minor secured the national identity card, and circumstances leading to her under age marriage. Although the 1st Respondent and the minor are now living together in a marriage, the said issues must be investigated, and appropriate action, which takes all factors into consideration, taken.
11. Mr. Fedha, learned prosecutor had submitted that they are carrying out investigations as directed by the Court. That should be done and completed within 90 days from the date hereof, and a report filed in this matter to make a formal closing of these proceedings. The matter will be mentioned on 2/11/2021 for formal closure of this matter.
Dated, Signed and Delivered in Mombasa this 29th day of July, 2021.
E. K. OGOLA
JUDGE
In the presence of:
Petitioner in person
Ms. Wanjohi for DPP
Ms. Peris Court Assistant