SAMSON MUIRURI MBUGUA v REPUBLIC [2011] KEHC 360 (KLR)

REPUBLICOF KENYA

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO 185 OF 2010

SAMSON MUIRURI MBUGUA......................................................................................APPELLANT

VERSUS

REPUBLIC....................................................................................................................RESPONDENT

J U D G E M E N T

Samson Muiruri Mbugua , the appellant herein, was charged with the offence of defilementof an imbecile, contrary to section 146 of the Penal Code as read with section 48(3) of the first schedule to the Sexual Offences   Act , No 3 of 2006. It is alleged that on 24/2/2005 at K[...] village in Naivasha District, he had carnal knowledge of T.W.N., a girl who to his   knowledge , was an imbecile. In the   alternative, he was charged with indecent assault on a female, contrary to section 144(1) of the Penal Code as read with section 48(3) of the Sexual Offence Act, no 3 of 2006. He also   faced a 2nd charge of failure to attend court   contrary to section 23(1) of the police Act. That on 27/4/05, at   Naivasha court failed to attend   court CMC2500/05.

The prosecution called a total of 8 witnesses in support of thecase and the appellant gave an unsworn   statement in his defence . He called no witness. The appellant   was convicted of the offence of defilement and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment and on the second charge, he was fined Ksh500 in default one month imprisonment . Sentences   were ordered   to run concurrently .

Being aggrieved by that sentence, the appellant preferred thisappeal in which he contends that the sentence of 14 years is excessive. He prays that the same be reduced on humanitarian grounds. He filed submissions in which he claims to have learnt a lesson and has changed his life and prays to be released so that   he can go and look after his child who was born as a result   of   his action. He also claims to be unwell and should be considered for   probation.

The appealwas opposed. Mr   Omwega appearing for th state urged the court to dismiss   the appeal because sentence is not illegal .

A childwas born out of the act of defilement which the appellant   now admits. Section 146 of the   Penal code under which the appellant was convicted imposes a maximum sentence of   14 years. In his Mitigation in the trial court,   the appellant gave the same reasons he now advances as grounds that he was going to take care of the child who was born out of the heinous   act . Apart   from the complainant being   an imbecile, she was also a minor aged 14   years of age. The appellant is not   deserving to serve a probation sentence and   there are no sufficient grounds adduced by the appellant to merit the court interfere with the sentence. The sentence is upheld and the appeal is hereby dismissed.

DATED AND DELIVERED THIS 17TH DAY OF JUNE 2011.

R P V WENDOH

JUDGE

PRESENT

Appellant present in person

Mr Omutelema for state

CC: Kennedy Oguma