Atsenga v Republic (Criminal Application E155 & E199 of 2025 & E008 of 2026 (Consolidated)) [2026] KEHC 9444 (KLR) (2 July 2026) (Ruling) Neutral citation: [2026] KEHC 9444 (KLR) REPUBLIC OF KENYA IN THE HIGH COURT AT MOMBASA CRIMINAL APPLICATION E155 & E199 OF 2025 & E008 OF 2026 (CONSOLIDATED) NM ORINA, J JULY 2, 2026 BETWEEN FREDRICK MUTOKA ATSENGA ........................................................ APPLICANT AND REPUBLIC ............................................................................................ RESPONDENT RULING 1. The Applicant was charged with the offence of defilement contrary to Section 8(1)(2) of the Sexual Offences Act No. 3 of 2006. He was convicted and sentenced to serve a custodial sentence of 15 years imprisonment. He has now moved this court through various applications dated 18 June 2025, 15 September 2025 and 21 January 2026 seeking a revision of sentence from a custodial sentence to a probation placement for the remainder of the sentence on the grounds that he has served a substantial part of the custodial sentence having been in jail for 7 years and due to be released in about 3 years’ time when taking into account remission. The Applicant avers that he left behind a wife and two children, all of whom have suffered much in his absence. 2. In exercise of powers under Section 362 and 364 of the Criminal procedure Code, this Court is called upon to examine the record of the trial court and to be satisfied of the correctness, legality or propriety of any finding sentence or order. This is the power of revision. Pursuant to Section 4 of the Probation of Offenders Act, this Court may also place a convicted person on probation, “having regard to the circumstances of the case including the nature of the offence and the character of the offender, it is expedient to release him on probation of good conduct…” 3. Although no sentence review report has been filed in this case, this court has called and examined the trial record and the judgment of the subordinate court. The Applicant was tried and convicted of defilement of a girl aged 14 years old at the time. Defilement is a serious offence and this has been recognised in the nature of sentences mandated by the Sexual Offences Act. The offence committed by the Applicant has long-term effects on victims. The Applicant has not articulated special circumstances https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/kehc/2026/9444/eng@2026-07-02 1
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which would persuade this court to exercise the discretion to substitute the remainder of the custodial sentence for a probation order. It is not enough to merely state that one has a family that continues to suffer due to the incarceration. Even though the Applicant is expected to eventually reintegrate into society upon completion of sentence, considering the period already served in prison being seven (7) years when weighed against the remaining period of approximately three (3) years, this court is not satisfied that there is a case for substituting that period with a probation order. A probation order would, in the circumstances of the seriousness of the offence and the possibility of re-traumatisation of the victim, be appropriate at the tail-end of the sentence in order to assist the Applicant to reintegrate into society. At the moment the same is not warranted and the application is hereby dismissed. RULING DATED AND DELIVERED VIRTUALLY THIS 2ND DAY OF JULY 2026 NABIL M. ORINA JUDGE In the Presence of: The Applicant Hamza – Court Assistant https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/kehc/2026/9444/eng@2026-07-02 2
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