Kariuki v Republic [2024] KEHC 12755 (KLR)

Kariuki v Republic (Criminal Revision 270 of 2024) [2024] KEHC 12755 (KLR) (22 October 2024) (Ruling)

Neutral citation: [2024] KEHC 12755 (KLR)

Republic of Kenya

In the High Court at Kibera

Criminal Revision 270 of 2024

DR Kavedza, J

October 22, 2024

Between

James Edward Kariuki

Applicant

and

Republic

Respondent

Ruling

1. The applicant was charged and convicted on five counts of offences: two counts of stealing a motor vehicle contrary to section 268(1) as read with section 278(A) of the Penal Code, forgery contrary to section 349 of the Penal Code, uttering a false document contrary to section 353 of the Penal Code and obtaining money by false pretence contrary to section 313 as read with 312 of the Penal Code. The applicant was sentenced to serve an accumulative of 11 years imprisonment.

2. He filed an application and an affidavit in support of his motion. The arguments raised are that the trial court failed to consider the time he spent in remand custody during the computation of sentence.

3. I have considered the application, the affidavit in support and the applicable law. I have also considered the trial court record. The issue for consideration is whether the trial court considered the time the applicant spent in remand custody.

4. The proviso to section 333 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code obligates the court to take into account the time already spent in custody. The duty to take in account the period an accused person had remained in custody in sentencing under the proviso to section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code which is couched in mandatory terms was acknowledged by the Court of Appeal in Ahamad Abolfathi Mohammed & Another vs. Republic [2018] eKLR and Bethwel Wilson Kibor vs. Republic [2009] eKLR and more recently in the High Court case of Vincent Sila Jona & 87 others vs Kenya Prison Service & 2 others [2021] eKLR.

5. It is therefore clear that it is mandatory that the period which an accused has been held in custody prior to being sentenced be taken into account in meting out the sentence where it is not hindered by other provisions of the law.

6. From the record, the applicant was arrested on 9th April 2019, and was never released on bail or bond until his conviction on 24th March, 2021. He, therefore, spent one (1) year eleven (11) months and twenty (20) days in remand custody. From the record, that the period was not factored in during his sentencing.

7. Guided by the law, the court is of the view that the application ought to be considered, as failure to do so would amount to denying the applicant a right due to the failure of the court to discharge an obligation bestowed upon it by law.

8. I thus allow the application and order that the sentence imposed shall be computed less by one (1) year eleven (11) months and twenty (20) days spent in remand custody during his trial.Orders accordingly.

RULING DATED AND DELIVERED VIRTUALLY THIS 22ND DAY OF OCTOBER 2024. ........................D. KAVEDZAJUDGE