Paul Ndichu Mbirwe & 1 other v Republic

REPUBLIC OF KENYA IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI CRIMINAL DIVISION CRIMINAL REVISION NO. 125 OF 2018. PAUL NDICHU MBIRWE............APPLICANT VERSUS REPUBLIC.................................RESPONDENT RULING 1. Paul Ndichu Mbirwe, hereafter the Applicant, brought the present application by way of Notice of Motion filed 23rd March, 2018. The application majorly seeks an order that the sentenced imposed on him in Nairobi Chief Magistrate’s Court Traffic case No. 20051 of 2015 be converted to a non-custodial sentence or that the court directs that he be conditionally pardoned. The application is supported by a self sworn supporting affidavit in which the Applicant deposes that he was married with two children who entirely depended on him and that they were continuing to suffer during his continued incarceration as he was their sole bread winner. He adds that he suffers from chest pains and his condition continues to worsen due to the prison conditions. 2. Ms. Akunja for the Respondent opposed the application submitting that the three year jail term was sufficient and commensurate with the offence. DETERMINATION. 3. The court has considered the submissions and the court record. On 13th September, 2017 the Applicant was sentenced to a fine of Kshs. 500,000/- in default serves 3 years imprisonment. His licence was also canceled. The Applicant had been charged in three counts, namely; (i)causing death by dangerous driving contrary to Section 46 of the Traffic Act, (ii)failing to report an accident contrary to Section 73(3) of the Traffic Act, and (iii)failing to take safety precautions of a passenger contrary to Rule 63(c) of the Traffic Act. The judgment by the trial court was in total error as after setting out the law pertaining to each count the trial magistrate proceeded to analyze the evidence only in respect of count I and convicted the Appellant accordingly. The rest of the counts were never interrogated to this court’s dismay. 4. Count I carries a sentence of imprisonment of a term not exceeding 10 years and the cancellation of the convict’s driving licence or provisional driving licence with an added declaration that the convict is disqualified from holding or applying for a licence for a period of three years. The period of three years mentioned above shall commence either on the date of conviction or at the end of the prison sentence, whichever is later. 5. The trial court opted to sentence the Applicant to a fine with a default sentence in which case the sentence ought to accord with Section 28 of the Penal Code. Therefore, the default sentence ought to have been twelve months. 6. Taking into account that the Applicant was not convicted in Counts II and III and also having regard to the seriousness of the offence, I am disinclined to take into account the period spent in custody. He must complete the lawful sentence. My final orders therefore are that the default sentence of three years is set aside and substituted with an order that the Applicant shall pay a fine of Ksh. 500,000/ in default serve twelve months imprisonment. It is so ordered.

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