George Omware Nyanya & Others v Republic & 7 others

(From Original Conviction and Sentence in Criminal case No.606 of 1998 of the Principal Magistrate’s Court at Maseno). JOSEPH YEWA OWITI……………………………………APPELLANT VERSUS REPUBLIC..………………………………………………RESPONDENT CONSOLIDATED WITH (From Original Conviction and Sentence in Criminal case No.606 of 1998 of the Principal Magistrate’s Court at Maseno). BEN JUMA ODHIAMBO…………………………………..APPELLANT VERSUS REPUBLIC………………………………………..………RESPONDENT 28/6/2001 All 6 appellants are present on Production Orders. No appearance for Republic – served COURT: Each of the six appellants says that he admits committing all the four robberies but each of then respondents that the convictions be substituted for simple robberies and the death sentence be set aside. JUDGMENT Criminal Appeal Nos.1303, 1307,1308,1309,1306 and 1304 of 1999 are consolidated. The appellants were convicted on each of the four counts of Robbery with Violence, contrary to section 296(2), Penal Code and sentenced to death. Each appellant now admits that he took part in the commission of the robberies but has requested me to substitute the convictions for Robbery, contrary to section 296(1), Penal Code and set aside the death sentences. The evidence was that the appellants jointly with others robbed the four complainants of the properties stated in the particulars of each count. All the said robberies were convicted on the might of 2nd July, 1998 in Bondo District. In considering the request for the substitution I note that none of the four robberies was of value more than Shs.8,000/-. Further that no serious violence was used either in the center of the robberies. No medical evidence was produced in the court below either. I consider this to be a suitable care for the substitution. The appellants were arrested in July 1998 and were in remand until June, 1999 when they were convicted and sentenced. None of the appellants had any previous convicted. There is no remission for robbery sentences.

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ORDER I substitute the convictions against each of the six appellants on each of the four counts for Robbery, contrary to section 296(1), P.C. and set aside the death sentences. I sentence Peter Otieno Nyamila, Joshua Omondi Oluoch and Joseph Yawa Owiti to four years imprisonment each with effect from 23rd June, 1999 plus two strokes each. I sentence George Omware Nyanya. Moses Otieno Okal and Ben Juma Odhiambo to four years imprisonment each with effect from 30th June, 1999 plus two strokes each. DATED and DELIVERED at NAIROBI this 28th June, 2001. V.V. PATEL JUDGE REPUBLIC OF KENYA IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1303 OF 1999 (From Original Conviction and Sentence in Criminal Case No.606 of 1998 of the Principal Magistrate’s Court at Maseno). GEORGE OMWARE NYANYA & OTHERS………….APPELLANTS VERSUS REPUBLIC……………………………………………...RESPONDENT CONSOLIDATED WITH CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1307 OF 1999 (From Original Conviction and Sentence in Criminal case No.606 of 1998 of the Principal Magistrate’s Court at Maseno). MOSES OTIENO OKAL……………………………….….APPELLANT VERSUS REPUBLIC……………………………………………….RESPONDENT CONSOLIDATED WITH CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1308 OF 1999 (From Original Conviction and Sentence in Criminal Case No.606 of 1998 of the Principal Magistrate’s Court at Maseno). PETER OTIENO NYAMILA……………………………..APPELLANT VERSUS REPUBLIC……………………………………………...RESPONDENT CONSOLIDATED WITH CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1309 OF 1999 (From Original Conviction and Sentence in Criminal Case No.606 of 1998 of the Principal Magistrate’s Court at Maseno).

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JOSHUA OMONDI OLUOCH…………………………….APPELLANT VERSUS REPUBLIC……………………………………………….RESPONDENT CONSOLIDATED WITH CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1306 OF 1999 (From Original Conviction and Sentence in Criminal Case No.606 of 1998 of the Principal Magistrate’s Court at Maseno). JOSEPH YEWA OWITI……………………………………APPELLANT VERSUS REPUBLIC..………………………………………………RESPONDENT CONSOLIDATED WITH CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1304 OF 1999 (From Original Conviction and Sentence in Criminal Case No.606 of 1998 of the principal Magistrate’s Court at Maseno). BEN JUMA ODHIAMBO…………………………………..APPELLANT VERSUS REPUBLIC………………………………………..………RESPONDENT 17/1/2002 COURT: The Signal from the Kisumu Main Prison, Ref.No.KMU/PRIS/4/6/VOL.II/326 refers. Please note that it ordered that the prison sentences of four years against each of the six appellants on each of the four count to run concurrently. V.V. PATEL JUDGE

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