REPUBLICOFKENYA INTHEHIGHCOURTOFKENYAATNYAHURURU CRIMINALAPPEALNO.E027OF2023 SAMSONKAMARILIAVOGA………………………………APPELLANT -VERSUSREPUBLIC………………………………………………….RESPONDENT JUDGMENT 1. SamsonKamariLiavoga,theAppellant,waschargedthus; CountI– RobberywithViolencecontrarytoSection295asreadwith Section296(2)ofthePenalCode.Particularsoftheoffencewer ethaton09/07/2022,atNyahururuTown,jointlyarmedwithaG3ri flegun,swordsandmachetes,robbedoneDavidWaruiruKariukia ToyotaHiluxBronzeincolorreg.numberKDH191B(valuedatKshs .3,500,000/-)aphonemakeOppoN7valuedatKshs.59,000/andcashworthKshs.3000/thepropertyofDavidWariuruKariukiandimmediatelybeforeand aftertherobberyusedactualviolence. HCCRA E027 OF 2023 (RUL.) Page 1 of 14
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AlternativeCount– HandlingstolenpropertycontrarytoSection322(1)and(2 )ofthePenalCode. CountII– Beinginpossessionofammunitionwithoutalicencecontr arytoSection4A(1)(a)oftheFirearmAct. 2. Hewastakenthroughfulltrial,convictedonCountIandacquittedo fthealternativecounttoCountIandCountII.Intheresult,hewasse ntencedtosufferdeathasprescribedbylaw. 3. Aggrieved,hepreferredanappealagainstboththeconvictionand sentence.InamendedgroundsofappealtheAppellantstatesasfol lows; 1) ThatthelearnedtrialMagistrateerredinbothlawandfactb yfailingtofindthattheAppellantwasnotprovidedwithaSt atefundedadvocatenorinformedofhisrighttolegalrepre sentationpursuanttoArticle50(2)(g)and(h). 2) ThatthelearnedtrialMagistrateerredinbothlawandfactb yconvictingtheAppellantinthepresentcaseyetfailedtofi ndthattheAppellant’sidentificationwasnotpositive. HCCRA E027 OF 2023 (RUL.) Page 2 of 14
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3) ThatthelearnedtrialMagistrateerredinbothlawandfactb yconvictingtheAppellantinthepresentcaseyetfailedtoa ppreciatethattherewasnoidentificationparadeconduct edinrespectoftheAppellant. 4) ThatthelearnedtrialMagistrateerredinbothlawandfactb yconvictingtheAppellantinthepresentcaseyetfailedtoa ppreciatethatthephotographstakenatthesceneoftheac cidentwerenevertakenbyascenesofcrimeofficerneither didtheyprovideanexusbetweentheAppellantandtheoff ence. 5) ThatthelearnedtrialMagistrateerredinbothlawandfactb yconvictingtheAppellantyetfailedtofindthatthemotorv ehicleandotherparaphernaliafoundatthescenewerenev erdustedforfingerprintsandthuscouldnotprovidethene cessaryproofthattheprosecutionrequiretoconnecttheA ppellantwiththeoffenceherein, 6) ThatthelearnedtrialMagistrateerredinbothlawandfactb ydismissingtheAppellant’sdefencewhichwascogentan dbelievableandraisedcredibledoubtofthestrengthofthe prosecution’scase. HCCRA E027 OF 2023 (RUL.) Page 3 of 14
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7) ThatthedeathsentenceimposedontheAppellantwasbot hharshandexcessivesincethemandatorynatureofthesa mehasbeendeclaredunconstitutionalinRamadhan&8Ot hersvAttorneyGeneral&Another[2024]KEHC1173andM bugua&9OthersvAttorneyGeneral&3Others[2025]KEH C1248(KLR). 4. Briefly,factsofthecasewerethaton9thJuly,2022DavidWaruiruKa riukiwenthomeandashedroveintothecompoundheheardtheala rm.Securitylightsaswellaselectriclightsinsidethehousewereon .HealightedfromhismotorvehicleReg.No.KDH191BToyotaHilux andwenttowardsthegatewhereheencounteredthreemen.Oneo fthemhadafirearm,whiletheothertwowerearmedwithknives.O neoftheintrudershadamavinhatandalsoworeajacketsimilartot hoseordinarilywornbythepolicewhiletherewasonewearingmilit aryboots.Theyforcedhimtoenterthehouseandhecomplied.The ydemandedthecarkeys.Theytookfromhimthekeys,aphoneand Kshs.3,000/Theydroveawayandthecomplainantalertedneighbours. 5. ThecomplainantreportedthemattertothepoliceandPW2No.952 53P.C.JosphatLowanawasassignedthecase.ThemotorHCCRA E027 OF 2023 (RUL.) Page 4 of 14
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vehiclehadatrackerandwiththeinterventionoftheinstalleritwas establishedthatitwasmovingtowardsSubukia.Theyfollowedan dfoundthemotorvehiclehavingbeeninvolvedinanaccidentatSubukiaHills. 6. UponarrivalatthescenethecomplainantidentifiedthemotorvehicleregistrationnumberKDH191Bashisandsomeotherexhib itswerealsorecoverednamely;3knives,militaryboots,NYSJacke t,3mavinhats,red,blueandgreyincolour;andanArafatscarfthatt heAppellantwaswearing.Alsorecoveredwasoneglove.Onelivea mmunitionandacartridge.TheAppellanthadsufferedinjurieshe ncewastakentohospitalfortreatment.ThemotorvehiclewasmovedtoNyahururuPoliceStationandtheduringinve stigationstheAppellantmentionedthenamesoftwoofhisaccomp lices. 7. UponbeingplacedonhisdefencetheAppellantstatedthatheisan artistandonthefatefuldatehewasattheEquatorareacarryingout hisworkwhenhewashitbyamotorvehicleandwastakentohospitalbyanunknownperson.Thathesu stainedinjuriesonthebody. HCCRA E027 OF 2023 (RUL.) Page 5 of 14
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8. ThisbeingafirstappellatecourtImustexamineandanalyzeevide nceadducedattrialafreshandreachindependentconclusionsbe aringinmindthatIhadnoopportunityof seeingandhearingwitnesseswhotestified.Thisdutyofthecourto nafirstappealwasstatedbythecourtinOkenovRepublic[1972 ]EA32asfollows: “Anappellantonafirstappealisentitledtoexpectthe evidenceasawholetobesubmittedtoafreshandexha ustiveexamination(Pandyav.R[1957]EA336)andto theappellatecourtsowndecisionontheevidence.Th efirstappellatecourtmustitselfweighconflictingevi denceanddrawitsownconclusionsShantilalM.Ruwalav.R[1957]EA570.Itisnotthefunc tionofafirstappellatecourtmerelytoscrutinizethee videncetoseeiftherewassomeevidencetosupportt helowercourts’findingsandconclusions;itmustmak eitsownfindingsanddrawitsownconclusions.Onlyt hencanitdecidewhetherthemagistrate’sfindingssh ouldbesupported.Indoingso,itshouldmakeallowan ceforthefactthatthetrialcourthashadtheadvantag HCCRA E027 OF 2023 (RUL.) Page 6 of 14
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eofhearingandseeingthewitnessesSeePetersv.SundayPost[1958]EA424”. 9. Thegravamenoftheappellantisthefactofthecaseagainsthimha vingnotbeenprovedtotherequiredstandardandhisrightshaving beencontravenedduetononcompliancewiththerequirementsoftheConstitution,andinparti cularArticle50(2)(g)and(h). 10. ToprovetheoffenceofrobberywithviolencetheProsecution thatmadeallegationsagainsttheappellantwasrequiredtoprovei ngredientsfortheoffenceasstatedinthecaseofOluochvRepubli c(1985)KLRwheretheCourtofAppealasfollows: “Undersection296(2)ofthePenalCode,robberywith violenceiscommittedinanyofthefollowingcircumst ances; 1.Theoffenderisarmedwithanydangerousoroff ensiveweaponorinstrument. 2.Theoffenderisincompanywith1ormoreperso norpersons,or, 3.Atorimmediatelybeforeorimmediatelyaftert hetimeoftherobbery,theoffenderwounds,beat HCCRA E027 OF 2023 (RUL.) Page 7 of 14
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strikesorusesotherpersonalviolencetoanyper son” 11. Evidenceadducedwasthatoneoftheintruders/ attackerswasarmedwithafirearmwhichisadevicedesignedtoinfl ictseriousharmand/ ordeath.Suchalethalweaponisdangerous.Otheroffenderswerea rmedwithkniveswhichcanbedangerouswhenusedtothreatenor harmaperson.Theywerethreeindividualshencetheoffenderwas morethanone.TheydidnotinjuretheComplainantbuttheyforced himandothersintothehouse. 12. InDimaDengeDima&OthersvRepublic,2013eKLR,th eCourtofAppealexplainedfurtherasfollows: “… TheelementsoftheoffenceunderSection296(2)aret hreeinnumberandtheyaretobereadnotconjunctivel y,butdisjunctively.Oneelementissufficienttofound anoffenceofrobberywithviolence.” 13. Twoelementsoftheoffencewerestablishedwhichwassuffic ienttoprovethechargeofrobberywithviolenceintheinstantcase.I tisurgedbytheAppellantthattheidentificationwasnotpositive.Iti HCCRA E027 OF 2023 (RUL.) Page 8 of 14
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showeveradmittedbytheAppellantthathewasinvolvedinanacci dent,althoughhisdefencesuggeststhathewashitbutwasnotinth emovingvehicle.TheAppellantwasatthescenewhenPW2arrived. PhotographsofthesceneweretakenwhichincludedthoseoftheAp pellantwhohadsustainedseriousinjuries.Section78oftheEvid enceActprovidesthus; (1)Incriminalproceedingsacertificateintheformint heFirstScheduletothisAct,givenunderthehandofan officerappointedbyorderoftheDirectorofPublicPro secutionsforthepurpose,whoshallhavepreparedap hotographicprintoraphotographicenlargementfro mexposedfilmoranelectronicanddigitalmediumsu bmittedtohim,shallbeadmissible,togetherwithany photographicprints,photographicenlargementsan danyotherannexreferredtotherein,andshallbeevid enceofallfactsstatedtherein. (2)Thecourtmaypresumethatthesignaturetoanysu chcertificateisgenuine. HCCRA E027 OF 2023 (RUL.) Page 9 of 14
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(3)Whenacertificateisreceivedinevidenceunderthi ssectionthecourtmay,ifitthinksfit,summonandexa minethepersonwhogaveit.…. 14. PhotographsweretakenbyPW3No.78498P.C.JosephKipsa moagazettedofficerandsceneofcrimeexpertwhileatNyahururu policestation.Hedidnotvisitthescenebutsomeotherphotograph stakenbyPW2attheprimarysceneweresubmittedtohim.Heproc essedthephotographicprintsandpreparedthecertificatethereof thenadducedtheminevidence.Itisnotarequirementfortheofficer takingthephotographstobegazetted.Whatismandatoryisforthe officerpreparingthephotographstobegazetted.Itwashenceproc eduralforPW2tohandoverthephotographstoPW3whoprocessed andprintedthemandmadeacertificatethereof. 15. OnthequestionoffailuretoconductanIdentificationparade. Thepurposeofconductinganidentificationparadeistotestifthewi tnessisreliable,andofgoodmemory.Thecomplainantsawthesus pectafterarrestandidentifiedhim.Conductinganidentificationpa radewouldbeofnousebecausetheparadewouldhavelostevidenti alvalue. HCCRA E027 OF 2023 (RUL.) Page 10 of 14
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16. Thiswasacaseofvisualidentification.InRoriavRepublic[1 967]EA583,thecourtstatedthat; “Aconvictionrestingentirelyonidentityinvariablyca usesadegreeofuneasiness........Thatdangeris,ofco urse,greaterwhentheonlyevidenceagainstanAccus edPersonisidentificationbyonewitnessandalthoug hnoonewouldsuggestthatconvictionbasedonsuchi dentificationshouldneverbeupheld,itisthedutyoft hecourttosatisfyitselfthatinallcircumstanceitissaf etoactonsuchidentification.” 17. InCleophasOtienoWamungav.Republic[1989]eKLR theCourtobservedthat: “Evidenceofvisualidentificationincriminalcasesca nbringaboutmiscarriagesofjusticeanditisofvitalim portancethatsuchevidenceisexaminedcarefullyto minimizethisdanger.Wheneverthecaseagainstade fendantdependswhollyortoagreatextentonthecorr ectnessofoneormoreidentificationsoftheaccusedw hichheallegestobemistaken,theCourtmustwarnits elfofthespecialneedforcautionbeforeconvictingth HCCRA E027 OF 2023 (RUL.) Page 11 of 14
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edefendantinrelianceonthecorrectnessoftheidenti fication….” 18. Acknowledgingthathumanmemorycanattimesbedistorte d,Ialsoappreciatethatitcanbereconstructive.AccordingtoPW1,t hecomplainant,thesecuritylightsoutsidethehousewereon.Insid ethehouseelectriclightswereonandtheattackersforcedthemtoe nterthehousepriortodemandingforthekeytothemotorvehicle.Hecompliedbyhandingoverthekey,phoneandcashmon ey.HeidentifiedtheAppellantastheindividualwhowaswearingmi litarybootsandhadcoveredhimselfwithanArafatscarfontheneck . 19. Onbeingfound,theAppellanthadtheArafatscarfstilltiedaro undhisneck.Heclaimstohavebeengoingabouthisbusinessbutno explanationwasgivenregardingthemannerofdressingwiththeAr afatscarfaroundhisneck. 20. Itisalsourgedthattheexhibitswerenotdustedforfingerprintstoc onnecttheAppellantwiththecrime.Thequestionofadoptingdustin gforfingerprintswouldideallyplaceasuspectatthesceneofcrime. However,theissuedidnotariseattrial.Additionally,consideringcir cumstancesthatprevailed,themotorHCCRA E027 OF 2023 (RUL.) Page 12 of 14
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vehiclehadanaccidentandwasdamagedasseeninthephotograph s.Evidencewasthatithadrainedandtheplacewasmuddy.Forensic integritywasclearlycompromised. 21. OntheissueofbeingprovidedwithaStatefundedadvocatenorinfo rmedofhisrighttolegalrepresentation.Article50(2) (g)and(h)oftheConstitutionprovidethus: Everyaccusedpersonhastherighttoafairtrial,which includestheright— (g)tochoose,andberepresentedby,anadvocat e,andtobeinformedofthisrightpromptly; (h)tohaveanadvocateassignedtotheaccusedp ersonbytheStateandatStateexpense,ifsubsta ntialinjusticewouldotherwiseresult,andtobein formedofthisrightpromptly 22. Therighttorepresentationisprovidedforbytheconstitution .Asguaranteed,theAppellantwasallowedbythecourttoberepres entedbycounselofhischoicehencehisrightswerenotviolated. 23. Finally,thecourtisfaultedforimposingaharshandexcessive sentence.Section296(2)ofthePenalCodeprovidesthus; HCCRA E027 OF 2023 (RUL.) Page 13 of 14
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Iftheoffenderisarmedwithanydangerousoroffensiv eweaponorinstrument,orisincompanywithoneorm oreotherpersonorpersons,orif,atorimmediatelybe foreorimmediatelyafterthetimeoftherobbery,hew ounds,beats,strikesorusesanyotherpersonalviole ncetoanyperson,heshallbesentencedtodeath. 24. Inmetingoutthesentencethecourtconsideredtheseriousnessof theoffenceandthepenaltyasprescribed.Tointerferewiththesente nceofatrialcourt,itmusthaveactedonwrongprinciples.Thetrialco urtstrictlyadheredtolaw.Itcannotbefaulted. 25. Intheupshot,theappeallacksmerit.Accordingly,itisdismissedini tsentirety. 26. Itissoordered. Dated,signedanddeliveredvirtuallythis6thdayofJuly,2026. …………………… L.N.MUTENDE JUDGE HCCRA E027 OF 2023 (RUL.) Page 14 of 14
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