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High CourtOtherCriminal Case No. 61 of 2017· [2020] KEHC 2949 (KLR)
Republic v Daniel Kipkurui Kibowen
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·~1 min to read original · ~4 min briefThe bottom line
#The court found sufficient evidence to proceed, requiring the accused to present their defense in court.
What this practically means
#Executive summary
#This is a ruling on case to answer in a criminal trial before the High Court at Kabarnet, Criminal Case No. 61 of 2017, in which Daniel Kipkurui Kibowen faced charges brought by the Republic. At the close of the Prosecution case, Counsel for the Accused filed written submissions dated 23 April 2020. Judge Edward M. Muriithi considered the Prosecution evidence and those submissions but deliberately avoided exhaustive discussion of the merits, following Kibera Karimi v. R and Festo Wandera Mukando v. R so as not to prejudice the fair trial. He adopted the test set out in KBT HCCRC No. 13 of 2017, drawing on Murimi v. R and Ramanlal T. Bhatt v. R: a trial court must acquit where the Prosecution fails to make out a case sufficient to require the accused to enter a defence, and such a case exists where a reasonable tribunal properly directing its mind to the law and the evidence could convict if no explanation is offered by the defence. Applying that standard, the court found that the Prosecution had established a prima facie case. It therefore ordered, under section 306(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code, that the Accused be put on his defence, with his rights under that provision to be explained to him. The ruling was dated and delivered on 24 September 2020. No costs order was made.
Key legal issues
#01
Whether a prima facie case was established
Holding
The Prosecution established a prima facie case, so the Accused was put on his defence.
Reasoning
The court applied the Bhatt and Murimi tests: a prima facie case is one on which a reasonable tribunal properly directing its mind to the law and the evidence could convict if no explanation is offered by the defence. Considering the Prosecution evidence and the Accused's written submissions, the court found the threshold met and invoked section 306(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
p. 2
Legal principles established
#- A trial court must acquit where the Prosecution fails to make out a case sufficient to require the accused to enter a defence; such a case exists where a reasonable tribunal properly directing its mind to law and evidence could convict if no explanation is offered by the defence.
Court orders
#- 1.The accused shall be put on his defence in accordance with section 306(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code, and his rights thereunder shall be explained to him
- Jurisdiction invoked
- Section 306 of the Criminal Procedure Code (ruling on case to answer)
Key timeline
#Practical implications
#Frequently asked questions
#Cite this brief
#Cite this brief
Caselaw, "Republic v Daniel Kipkurui Kibowen", Case Analysis (2020). Criminal Case No. 61 of 2017. Source:
Suggested citation format for research notes or client memos. Always verify the original judgment before relying on any point.