Republic v Reuben Ocheno Obwora [2021] KEHC 2195 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT KITALE

CRIMINAL CASE NO. 33 (E010)  OF 2020

REPUBLIC....................................................................PROSECUTOR

VERSUS

REUBEN OCHENO OBWORA.........................................ACCUSED

RULING

The accused, Reuben Ocheno Obwora was released on bail pending trial when he was arraigned before this court to take plea on the charge of Murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code. Apparently, from the record, the Prosecution did not oppose the release of the accused on bail pending trial.

The Prosecution made no application either to vary the terms of bond or to have the bond cancelled until when the mother of the deceased (PW3) testified in court.  In her testimony before court, she stated  that  she was  living under  constant  fear of  the accused because of  what he  had previously  threatened he would do to  her. PW3 stated that the accused   had threatened her with dire consequence because of the dispute that she had with him over land.  Incidentally, the accused is the father of the deceased and the husband of PW3.   The prosecution now want the bond issued to the accused cancelled. Mr. Nakitare for the accused streneuously opposed the application essentially stating that no grounds had been placed before the court to support the prosecution’s application that the accused had threatened PW3.

This court has carefully considered the rival submission made in that regard. It has also considered the allegations of PW3 which was made under oath.  On evaluation of the said allegations this court is unable to discern what threat PW3 is currently facing from the accused noting that she alleges those threats were uttered in November 2020.  This court wondered what the threats, if indeed the allegations are true, would achieve.  It did not intimidate either PW3 or her son PW2 from testifying in the case against the accused.

If PW3 had indicated the court that she had been intimidated from testifying in court against the accused that would have been another kettle of fish.  PW3 has now adduced her testimony before court.  It was clear to the court that the allegations of threat that she has made maybe were contemporaneous to the time the accused was charged.  Since then, it has been more than a year since, according to PW3 herself, she had not communicated with the accused.

That being the case, this court formed the view that the allegations of  threats of harm made by PW3 may not be current, but  rather, is something that happened in the past with no  repeat  having been made by the accused (if the allegations are true) since he was arraigned before the court.

The application lacks merit and is hereby dismissed.

DATED AT KITALE THIS 11TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2021.

L. KIMARU

JUDGE