Eugine Lumumba Sikwenyi v Republic [2022] KEHC 2936 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT KAKAMEGA

CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 75 OF 2019

EUGINE LUMUMBA SIKWENYI........................................................APPLICANT

VERSUS

REPUBLIC..........................................................................................RESPONDENT

RULING

1.  This matter was placed before me for the purpose of giving directions, in view of the recent decision by the Supreme Court in Francis Karioko Muruatetu & another vs. Republic; Katiba Institute & 5 others(Amicus Curiae[2021] (Koome CJ&P, Mwilu DCJ&VP, Ibrahim, Wanjala, Ndung’u & Lenaola SSJJ), with respect to mandatory sentences, where it was clarified that the decision, in Francis Karioko Muruatetu & another vs. Republic[2017] eKLR (Maraga CJ&P, Mwilu DCJ&VP, Ojwang, Wanjala, Njoki and Lenaola SCJJ), had arisen from proceedings relating to murder, under section 204 of the Penal Code, Cap 63, Laws of Kenya, and the position stated in the said decision was intended to apply only to mandatory sentences with respect to murder cases.

2.  The application herein, undated, filed herein on 26th September 2019, is principally founded on the decision, in Francis Karioko Muruatetu & another vs. Republic[2017] eKLR (Maraga CJ&P, Mwilu DCJ&VP, Ojwang, Wanjala, Njoki and Lenaola SCJJ), for the applicant seeks review of his sentence, where he had been convicted of defilement, contrary to section 8(1)(2) of the Sexual Offences Act, No. 3 of 2006, in Hamisi SRMCCRC No. 471 of 2010, and was sentenced to life in prison. He filed appeals in Kakamega HCCRA No. 148 of 2012 and Kisumu CACRA No. 149 of 2014, and in both the conviction was upheld, but the Court of Appeal substituted the life imprisonment with twenty years’ imprisonment.

3.  The offence, the subject of the instant proceedings, is not murder, but defilement, as defined in section 8(1)(2)(3) of the Sexual Offences Act, the decision in Francis Karioko Muruatetu & another vs. Republic[2017] eKLR (Maraga CJ&P, Mwilu DCJ&VP, Ojwang, Wanjala, Njoki and Lenaola SCJJ), therefore, does not apply to it. As a consequence, the High Court has no jurisdiction to review the sentence that was imposed by the trial court, in view of the directions given in Francis Karioko Muruatetu & another vs. Republic; Katiba Institute & 5 others(Amicus Curiae[2021] (Koome CJ&P, Mwilu DCJ&VP, Ibrahim, Wanjala, Ndung’u & Lenaola SSJJ). The application is incompetent. The file herein is to be closed. Let the applicant seek review of his sentence administratively through the prisons system, the Ministry of Interior and the ` Advisory Committee on the Power of Mercy.

4.  The Deputy Registrar shall cause copies of this ruling to be availed to the applicant and the office of Director of Public Prosecutions, Kakamega.

PREPARED, DATED AND SIGNED AT KAKAMEGA THIS 14TH DAY OF  JANUARY 2022

W MUSYOKA

JUDGE