JOHN KINGORI WACHIRA Alias MANGA & JOHN MAINA MWANGI Alias BLAKIE v REPUBLIC [2006] KEHC 1254 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

JOHN KINGORI WACHIRA (Alias MANGA)…………………………….............……………APPELLANT VERSUS REPUBLIC ..........................................………………………………………..RESPONDENT

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 62 of 2006

JOHN MAINA MWANGI (Alias BLAKIE) …………………........……….......……………..APPELLANT VERSUS REPUBLIC ……………………...............................………………………….RESPONDENT

( An appeal from the Judgment of C.D. Nyamweya, Senior Resident Magistrate, undated; In Criminal Case No. 423 of 2003 of the Chief Magistrate’s Court , Nyeri.)

JUDGMENT

The Provincial State Counsel Mr. Charles Orinda, conceded these consolidated appeals on the ground that the prosecutor at the trial was not a person qualified to prosecute under Section 85(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code.  We note also that the evidence recorded by the learned trial  Magistrate  does not show that witnesses were being  sworn before they gave evidence . In the circumstances, we have to give the benefit of  the doubt  to the appellants.

That being  the position, we do hereby declare the trial a nullity.  Allow the appeal  of each appellant . Quash the conviction  of each appellant and set aside  the sentence  imposed thereof.

We order that each appellant be set at liberty forthwith unless lawfully  detained in some other cause.

Dated this 28th day of September, 2006.

J.M.KHAMONI

JUDGE

H.M.OKWENGU

JUDGE