Michael Kungu Kigia v Lydia Gatwiri,O. C. S. Meru Police Station,P. C. Peter Kisoi,Rosa Nkatha,Japhet Muriira,Attorney General & Director of Public Prosecution [2018] KEHC 364 (KLR)

Full Case Text

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT MERU

CONSTITUTIONAL PETITION NO. 2 OF 2017

IN THE MATTER OF PROTETCTION OF RIGHTS IN THE BILL OF RIGHTS CHAPTER FOUR (4) ARTICLE 49 (1) (F) (G) AND (H) OF THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA

AND

IN THE MATTER OF CONTRAVENTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND PROTECTION UNDER CHAPTER ONE ARTICLE 2 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) CHAPTER 2 ARTICLE 10 BILL OF RIGHT ARTICLE 19, 201, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29 (a) (b) (c) (d) € (f) ARTICLE 30 (1) (2) ARTICLE 47 (1) (2) ARTICLE 49 (i0 (f) (g) (i) (4) ARTICLE 50 (1) OF THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA

IN THE MATTER OF UNPROSECUTED POLICE BOND CASE FILE NO. 461/2011 MERU DATED 27TH MARCH 2011 ON FRAMED STOLEN MOTOR VEHICLE TOYOTA REGISTRATION NO. KAQ 105A BETWEEN 1ST FEBRUARY, 2011 AND 10TH MARCH, 2011 AT NKOUNE VILLAGE IN POLICE OB NO. 54/23/3/2011

BETWEEN

MICHAEL KUNGU KIGIA.....................................PETITIONER

VERSUS

LYDIA GATWIRI..............................................1st RESPONDENT

O. C. S. MERU POLICE STATION..............2nd RESPONDENT

P. C. PETER KISOI..........................................3rd RESPONDENT

ROSA NKATHA................................................4th RESPONDENT

JAPHET MURIIRA..........................................5th RESPONDENT

ATTORNEY GENERAL...................................6th RESPONDENT

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTION....7th RESPONDENT

JUDGMENT:

1. The judgment relates to a Petition filed by the Petitioner herein, Michael Kungu Kigia, on 27/01/2017. The Petitioner sought for several reliefs on allegations that he was arrested on 25/03/2011 on theft of a motor vehicle and placed in custody at Meru Police Station until 27/03/2011 when he was released on police bond. He was eventually charged in Meru Chief Magistrates Criminal Case No. 598of 2011 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the criminal case’) which criminal case is still pending.

2. The Petitioner recounted his tribulations during the investigations of the criminal case. He seriously took issue with one Peter Kisoi, the investigating officer. He then made the following prayers: -

(a) That declarations that fundamental rights and freedoms of the petitioners as enshrined in the constitution has been breached.

(b) An order do issue inhibition order on the Criminal Case No. 598/2011 be enforced until this petition is heard and determined.

(d) Costs of the petition.

(e) Such further / or orders to court deem fit and expedient.

3. The Petition was heard by way of oral evidence. The Petitioner was the only one who testified since none of the Respondents appeared in the matter despite service. The Petitioner recounted the contents of the Petition in seeking for the prayers aforesaid.

4. Since the criminal case is still pending, it will be premature and/or pre-emptive for this Court to interrogate how the investigating officer handled the case. The Petitioner ought to make a basis for any of his claims arising from the way the criminal case was investigated during the hearing and thereafter he may petition this Court accordingly. I say so noting that the Petitioner did not seek to stop his prosecution in the manner the investigations were conducted. He only prayed for an interlocutory stay of the criminal case until the determination of this Petition which prayer he seems to have abandoned. That hence leaves the allegation that the Petitioner was incarcerated contrary to the Constitution.

5. Article 49 of the Constitution is on the rights of an arrested person. Of relevance to this matter is (1)(f) and (2) which are tailored as follows: -

49(1)(f) to be brought before a court as soon as reasonably possible a sentence, but not later that

(i) twenty – four hours after being arrested; or

(ii) if the twenty-four hours ends outside ordinary court hours, or on a day that is not an ordinary court day, the end of the next court day;

(2) A person shall not be remanded in custody for an offence I the offence is punishable by a fine only or by imprisonment for not more than six months.

6. The Petitioner avers that he was arrested on 25/03/2011 and released on 27/03/2011 on police bond. The 25/03/2011 was on a Friday and 27/03/2011 was on a Sunday. The confinement was hence within the confines of Article 49(1)(f)(ii) of the Constitutionsince the Petitioner could not be arraigned in court before 28/03/2011.

7. The Petition was hence founded on a wrong interpretation of the Constitutionand do not have any legal leg to stand on. The position would however have been different had the Petitioner been held in contravention of the Constitution and/or the law. Consequently, the Petition be and is hereby dismissed with no orders as to costs.

Orders accordingly.

SIGNED BY:

A. C. MRIMA

JUDGE

DATED, COUNTERSIGNED and DELIVERED at MERU this 30th day of July, 2018.

S. M. GIKONYO

JUDGE