Biwott v Republic [2024] KEHC 6958 (KLR)

Biwott v Republic (Criminal Revision E157 of 2024) [2024] KEHC 6958 (KLR) (11 June 2024) (Ruling)

Neutral citation: [2024] KEHC 6958 (KLR)

Republic of Kenya

In the High Court at Eldoret

Criminal Revision E157 of 2024

RN Nyakundi, J

June 11, 2024

Between

Dennis Kipkorir Biwott

Applicant

and

Republic

Respondent

Ruling

1. The applicant was charged with the offence of stealing stock contrary to section 278 of the Penal Code. The particulars are that on 29th March, 2024 at Kapkoi Location in Kesses sub-county within Uasin Gishu county, the applicant jointly with others stole one Freshian OX valued at Kshs. 90,000/= the property of Kipkoech Arusei.

2. The applicant pleaded guilty to the offence before Hon. B. Kiptoo on 24th April, 2024 and as a consequence, he was convicted on his own plea of guilty and sentenced to serve 2 years imprisonment

3. The applicant has approached this court pursuant to sections 357,362,364& 382 of the Criminal Procedure Code as construed with Article 50(2) (p) & (q) as conjunctively read with Article 50(6)(a) &(b) of the Constitution.

4. The applicant seeks a sentence review pursuant to the sentence review report filed on 31st May, 2024. The report is favorable. According to the report, the applicant is in good health. His family eagerly awaits his release. The area chief believes he has learned a good lesson for the time he has been in jail. No one objects to his release. The report further indicated that the complainant is his step father. When contacted he informed the officer that he recovered his cow the applicant had taken to his mother. The complainant and the applicant’s mother separated and lived in different parts of Ainabkoi. As to the applicant’s attitude to the non-custodial sentence, he is willing and stated that he is focused to go home and assist his disabled mother and take care of his siblings. Given that background, the probation officer recommended a probation sentence for a period of 1 year and three months.

5. In determining whether to impose a custodial or non-custodial sentence, the court is required to take into account the following factors: -a)Gravity of the offence: - sentence of imprisonment should be avoided for misdemeanour.b)Criminal history of the offender. Taking into account the seriousness of the offences, first offenders should be considered for non-custodial sentence.c)Character of the offender: - non-custodial sentence are best suited for offenders who are already remorseful and receptive to rehabilitative measures.d)Protection of the community: - where the offender is likely to pose a threat to the community.e)Offender’s responsibility to third parties: - where there are people depending on the offender.Punishment against an individual offender should not be used as a warning to the general public because this is punishing an offender for wrongs he has not committed yet. First and foremost, there are long sentences imposed as a deterrence measure without the purpose of factoring in rehabilitation and transformation of the offender. There is always a reluctance by trial courts to prefer deterrence as a justification for punishment even if it is disproportionate to the offence charged. In the comparative case of S v Makwanyane 1995 3 SA 391 (CC) made the following observations. That if general deterrence reduces an offender to a “guinea pig” then it should be a wholly objectionable goal of punishment regardless of the state of the offender. The instrumentalization of an offender violates the right to human dignity which is guaranteed in our Article 28 of the Constitution. The age or criminal record of an offender is of no consequence. Otherwise compliance with equality before the law and freedom from non-discrimination in Art. 27 of the Constitution may be called into question. In deterrence trajectory of sentencing, the principle of proportionality is removed even for first offenders, those who have entered plea of guilty, or those with mitigatory factors which favour a non-custodial sentence. The court also in Rep v Kholoviko (1996) MLR 355 took this view on consideration of the negative consequences of long sentences both on a convict and others including victims like spouses and children of the offender/convict. “ The courts must also consider how such long sentences that are advocated can deter other accused persons, present as well as future ones. There is no evidence that these offences have reduced by reason of long sentences. In fact, they are on the increase. For first time offenders, not only common sense but the law as well, require[s] that they should not be sent to prison willy-nilly. They should only be sent to prison if there are real and compelling reasons for doing so. This court does not believe, nor is it convinced, that mere trend or level or even conventional sentences alone have any impact on the accused himself. It may have merit on generating confidence in the courts and promoting the concept of predictability of the sentences that the courts will impose generally, but there is no real impact on deterrence and reformation.

6. The circumstances of the case in my opinion are favorable for a non-custodial sentence. It was reported that the complainant is the applicant’s step father. It is not clear why the applicant could engage himself in stealing what belonged to his step father. I believe in such offences, victim offender mediation should be explored so as to avoid reoffending and solve any underlying issues. I have taken into consideration the circumstances of the offence, the fact that he is a first offender and the fact that he is of a young age. The applicant with the supervision of the probation officer should attempt victim offender mediation while serving a non-custodial sentence. The applicant to this end is placed on a probation sentence of 1 year and three months. It is necessary that during the period under review while the applicant is serving probation sentence, quarterly reports be filed in court by the probation officer to capture the elements of restorative justice in this case.

SIGNED, DATE AND DELIVERED AT ELDORET THIS 11TH DAY OF JUNE 2024. ...................R. NYAKUNDIJUDGE