Job Ragira Mweresa v Republic [2020] KEHC 960 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA

AT NYAMIRA

REVISION NO. E005 OF 2020

JOB RAGIRA MWERESA.........................................................................APPLICANT

- VRS -

THE REPUBLIC.......................................................................................RESPONDENT

{From original Conviction and Sentence of Hon. C. W. Waswa (Mr.) – RMin the

Original Nyamira Chief Magistrate’s Court Sexual Offence No. 66 of 2018}

RULING

This file has been placed before me for revision vide a Notice of Motion filed herein on 6th August 2020.  The applicant who is a convicted prisoner seeks what he describes as “mitigation of sentence reduction only.”  In the body of the application he also states that he wishes to be present at the time of hearing of the application and that he has lodged the application as a pauper.  The application is supported by an affidavit dated 6th August 2020 in which the applicant deposes that he was sentenced to eight (8) years imprisonment for the offence of defilement; that he is not appealing against the conviction but is only asking for a review of the sentence.  Attached to the application is a warrant of commitment showing that he was sentenced on 21st June 2019 in the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Nyamira.

I have considered the application carefully and I am of the view that firstly it is incompetent and not properly before this court and secondly that it has no merit.  Upon conviction and sentence the accused person has a right of appeal.  That right is enshrined in Article 50 (2) (q)of the Constitutionwhich states: -

“(2)  Every accused person has the right to a fair trial, which includes the right: -

(q)  If convicted, to appeal to, or apply for review by, a higher court as prescribed by law.”

That right is given expression in Section 347 (1) (a) of the Criminal Procedure Code which states: -

“347 (1)   Save as in this part provided—

a. a person convicted on a trial held by a subordinate court of the first or second class may appeal to the High Court; ……….”

Convictions and sentences for sexual offences are therefore appealable as of right.  It is clear from Section 347 (1) (a)of the Criminal Procedure Code that a person who is convicted of an offence and who is aggrieved is expected to exercise that right of appeal first to the High Court and then to the Court of Appeal as provided under the law.  A person who fails to exercise that right cannot come to this court for revision of a sentence lawfully passed by the trial court.  Indeed, Section 364 (5) of the Criminal Procedure Codeexpressly prohibits that and states: -

“(5) When an appeal lies from a finding, sentence or order, and no appeal is brought, no proceeding by way of revision shall be entertained at the insistence of the party who could have appealed.”

The applicant has attached a certificate to the effect that he has not filed any appeal in respect to his case.  He is therefore by virtue of Section 364 (5)of the Criminal Procedure Codeprevented from filing this application.  For that reason, his application is not properly before this court and is incompetent.

Secondly, even were we to assume the power of revision vested in this court by Section 362of the Criminal Procedure Code is different from the right to a review by a higher court donated to a convicted person by Article 50 (2) (q) of the Constitution and that the applicant seeks to exercise that right under Article 50 (2) (q)of the Constitution,I would still find the application incompetent as no material has been placed before me that would enable me to review the sentence.  No proceedings or judgement have been attached to the application and the notice of motion is therefore unsupported.  As for the ground that he has reformed that ought to be taken into account by the Prison authorities when considering remission.

In the upshot the application is found to be not only incompetent but also unmerited and it is dismissed.

E. N. MAINA - J

18/12/2020