Mwanyengela v Republic (Criminal Appeal E005 of 2023) [2024] KECA 561 (KLR) (24 May 2024) (Judgment)
Neutral citation:
[2024] KECA 561 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
Criminal Appeal E005 of 2023
JW Lessit, PM Gachoka & GV Odunga, JJA
May 24, 2024
Between
Benson Mwamela Mwanyengela
Appellant
and
Republic
Respondent
(Being an appeal from the judgement of the High Court of Kenya at Voi (Farah S. M Amin, J.) delivered on 9th October 2018 from the original Wundanyi Criminal Case No. 11 of 2017 in Voi HCCRA No. 89 of 2017)
Judgment
1.Benson Mwamela Mwanyengela, the appellant, was charged in Count I, with the offence of rape contrary to Section 3(1)(a)(b) and (3) as read with Section 8(2) of the Sexual Offences Act No. 3 of 2006. The particulars were that on 22nd March, 2017 at around 3.00 am at Wumingu Location within Taita Taveta County, he intentionally and unlawfully caused his penis to penetrate the vagina of DNK, the complainant, without her consent. The appellant also faced an alternative charge of committing indecent act with an adult contrary to Section 2(1) as read with Section 11(A) of the Sexual Offences Act. In Count II, the appellant faced the charge of unnatural offence contrary to section 162(a) (i) of the Penal Code, the particulars being that on 22nd March, 2017 at around 3.00 am at Wumingu Location within Taita Taveta County the appellant had anal knowledge of DNK against the order of nature. Just like in the first count, there was an alternative count of committing indecent act with an adult Contrary to section 2(1) as read with section 11(A) of the Sexual Offences Act.
2.The prosecution’s case was that on 22nd March 2017 at 3.00 am, PW2 AWM, a daughter to the complainant was in her room with her boyfriend, PW3, when she heard a person enter the appellant’s room. The appellant who was their landlord was staying in a room next to hers. The man called her but she did not respond. She then heard the man threatening that “today you will know me”. Upon checking, she saw that the man was the appellant and shortly thereafter, the appellant switched off the security lights, before entering the complainant’s room, about 1 metre away from hers. It was her evidence that the appellant was there for 3 minutes and shortly after the appellant entered the complainant’s room, she heard the complainant scream. She was able to see the appellant through the window since there was moonlight. Although she searched for a weapon, she was unable to get one. After the appellant left the complainant’s room, she went there and found the complainant touching her buttocks with her hand and the complainant informed her that the appellant had raped her in her vagina and in her anus. Although the complainant was wearing a skirt and T-shirt, she had no underpants since she had a catheter for urinating.
3.On examining the complainant, PW1 saw colourless fluid oozing from her vagina and from her anus. On the floor she saw a condom and wrappers and the complainant was bleeding from the stool. After that she took the complainant to the hospital and reported the matter to the police. It was her evidence that her boyfriend, PW3 stood outside when she entered the complainant’s room. According to PW2, she was scared and did not scream. In her evidence, she had never seen the appellant enter the complainant’s room before and she had no grudge with the appellant.
4.PW3, AKS , confirmed that on that night, he was in the bedroom with PW2 sleeping when at 3. 00 am, the appellant returned, put off the lights and called PW2, but receiving no response warned that they would know him. He then saw the appellant enter the complainant’s bedroom where he stayed for 3 minutes. While the appellant was inside, he heard screams. It was his evidence that when the appellant arrived, though he was asleep, the lights were on.
5.Dr. Mohamed Machi, who testified as PW1 examined the complainant, a 54 year old lady who had suffered a stroke and had developed an abnormality in her speech arising from the damage to her central nervous system hence could not express herself well. She also had a catheter in situ. On examination, he found that the complainant had no tear or stains on the clothes and was in fair general condition; that there were visible bruises on the vaginal wall and labia and hymen was missing; that there were bruises on the anal region and watery discharge in the vagina with presence of bloody faecal matter in the anal region; though there were no spermatozoa, he found urinary tract infection, and was of the view that the watery discharge was alarming. He stated that a condom was collected at the scene as well as pubic hair from the appellant for the purposes of carrying out a DNA test. In his opinion, there was forced penetration of the complainant.
6.PW4, PC Simon Ndoloi, took over the investigations from PC Mugendi. It was his evidence that the complainant’s statement was not taken because she was unwell and could not talk. However, condoms were found at the scene and the investigations revealed that the appellant penetrated the complainant’s anus and vagina with his penis.
7.In his sworn defence, the appellant stated that he returned home at 1.00 am drunk and slept till 8.00 am the following morning when he was woken up by police officers who told him that he had gone into the room of the complainant who screamed. He however denied entering the complainant’s room. According to his evidence, he had given parties a notice to leave his premises for non-payment of rent but the complainant and her daughter ignored though he was unable to tell for how long they had defaulted. In cross- examination, he confirmed that on 22nd March, 2017 he was in his house at 3.00 am and that the complainant and PW2 had been his tenants for 4 years and that they were living in the same compound. He confirmed that PW2 could see him from her house as there were lights in and out. In his evidence, PW2 was in the next room with another man.
8.At the conclusion of the case, the learned trial magistrate found that the appellant was properly identified by PW2 and PW3 as the man who was seen entering the complainant’s room at night; that he was also heard threatening the complainant and PW2; that the complainant informed PW2 that the appellant had raped and sodomised her; that the medical report corroborated the fact of rape and sodomy; that the appellant’s defence of the existing grudge arising from non-payment of rent was not established; that the appellant’s defence was a mere denial of the prosecution case and evidence; that there was overwhelming evidence against the appellant; that the case was proved beyond reasonable doubt and that the appellant was guilty as charged in both counts I and II. The appellant was thus convicted in the two counts and sentenced to ten (10) years imprisonment in count I and twenty one (21) years imprisonment in count II, both sentences running consecutively.
9.Aggrieved, the Appellant lodged an appeal before the Voi High Court in Criminal Appeal No. 89 of 2017 based on the grounds that the whole case was a total fabrication; that the prosecution did not prove its case beyond reasonable doubt to warrant a conviction; that the sentence ought to run concurrently and not consecutively; that no investigation was conducted in the case; and failure to consider his sworn defence.
10.On 9th October, 2018, Farah Amin, J dismissed the appeal and upheld the learned trial Magistrate conviction and sentence. According to the Learned Judge, the appellant failed to demonstrate the error in both law and principle.
11.The appellant has appealed to this Court contending the plea taking exercise was defective; that the respondent failed to discharge the burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt contrary to sections 109 and 110 of the Evidence Act; that the respondent’s evidence was inconsistent and contradictory contrary to section 163(1)(c) of Evidence Act; for relying on the evidence of a single witness which was incredible and insufficient to sustain a safe conviction; and that the conviction was against the weight of the evidence. The appellant urged us to allow his appeal, quash the conviction and set aside the sentence.
12.We heard the appeal on the Court’s GoTo virtual platform on 18th December 2023 when the appellant appeared in person from Manyani Prison while learned Senior Principal Prosecution Counsel, Mr Alex Gituma, appeared for the respondent. Both the appellant and Mr Gituma relied entirely on their written submissions which we have considered.
13.This being a second appeal, this Court’s mandate is limited by section 361(1)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Code. In that regard, in the case of Peter Osanya v Republic [2016] eKLR this Court stated:
14.This position was restated in in Karani v R [2010] 1 KLR 73 that:-
15.We are mindful of the position adopted by this Court in Njoroge v Republic [1982] KLR 388 that:
16.We are also guided by the decision in Adan Muraguri Mungara v R CA Cr App No 347 of 2007 where it was held thus:
17.We agree that where the first appellate court fails to evaluate the evidence and subject it to fresh scrutiny, that may be a ground for a second appeal. That was the position adopted by this Court in Jonas Akuno O’kubasu v Republic [2000] eKLR where it was held that:
18.We must point out, with due respect that the judgement of the High Court fell short of the legal expectations. Apart from simply stating that it had a duty to re-evaluate the evidence, there is nothing in the judgement to show that the said court actually re-evaluated the evidence. Re-evaluation of evidence is not the same as rehashing the evidence, which is what the learned Judge did. In our view- re- evaluation of the evidence requires a re-examination of the evidence and analysis of the same in order to arrive at a decision whether, in arriving at its decision, the trial court properly addressed itself to the evidence that was adduced before it. This approach was restated in the decision of the Supreme Court of India in Ganpat v State of Haryana (2010) 12 SCC 59. 4. where the court set out the principles to be borne in mind by a first appellate court while dealing with appeals and stated thus:a.“There is no limitation on the part of the appellate Court to review the evidence upon which the order appealed against is founded and to come to its own conclusion.b.The first appellate Court can also review the trial court’s conclusion with respect to both facts and law.c.It is the duty of a first appellate Court to marshal the entire evidence on record and by giving cogent and adequate reasons may set aside the decision appealed against or the entire proceedings if they are flawed.d.When the trial Court has breached provisions of the constitution or ignored statutory provisions, or misconstrued the law, or breached rules of procedure, or ignored crucial evidence or misread the material evidence or has ignored material documents, or in any manner compromised the accused rights to a fair trial or prejudiced the accused etc. the appellate court is competent to reverse the decision of the trial court depending on the materials in question.”
19.This would mean that, contrary to the requirements of section 169 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, there was no determination or pronouncements made by the court on the grounds raised by each of the respondents in relation to their peculiar facts. Section 169(1) specifies that:
20.Emphasising on the mandatory requirements of a judgment as stipulated by section 169(1), this Court in the case of Kungu v Republic (Criminal Appeal 103 of 2018) [2023] KECA 1452 (KLR) observed:
21.Similarly, in the case of Geoffrey Muchugia Gitonga & another v Republic [2020] eKLR it was observed that:
22.In our view, where the first appellate court fails in its duty, this Court must as a matter of law delve into the evidence adduced before the trial court in order to determine whether it was sufficient to sustain the conviction.
23.The appellant was charged with rape and sodomy. Under section 3(1) of the Sexual Offences Act:
24.The ingredients of the offence of rape therefore include intentional and unlawful penetration of the genital organ of one person by another, coupled with the absence of consent.
25.In the case of Republic v Oyier (1985) KLR 353, this Court held as follows:-
26.In this case, PW2 and her mother, the complainant were the appellant’s tenants. The appellant seemed to have been unhappy about their erratic rent payments and notified them to vacate but the complainant and PW2 never complied. On 22nd March, 2017, when the complainant and PW2 were asleep, the appellant arrived at 3.00 am and started calling PW2. At that time PW2 was with PW3, her boyfriend while the complainant was sleeping in a different room. When PW2 failed to respond, the appellant threatened the complainant and PW2 that they would know him. He then proceeded to the complainant’s room and shortly thereafter, screams were heard from that room. Three minutes after the appellant entered the room, he left. PW2 went to the complainant’s room and confirmed that the complainant had been raped and sodomised and the matter was reported to the police.
27.PW2’s evidence was corroborated by PW3 while PW1 confirmed that the examination of the complainant revealed that she had been raped and sodomised.
28.Both PW2 and PW3 testified that they were able to clearly see the appellant who was a person well known to them. In his evidence, the appellant confirmed that he was within the vicinity at the time when the incident took place having returned home drunk. He also confirmed that he had a bone to pick with the complainant and PW2 who declined to vacate his premises despite having warned them. From the evidence, it was clear that the appellant had both the motive and the opportunity to commit the offence. The evidence of PW2 and PW3 placed him squarely at the scene and identified him as the person who committed the offence. In our view, in light of the direct evidence of PW2, it was not necessary for PW2 to have been treated as an intermediary. Her evidence was that of a person who witnessed the offence as opposed to one who was relying on the information given to her by the complainant. Accordingly, we find no substance in the contention that PW2 ought not to have been treated as an intermediary. Her being treated as such was clearly an error but one which did not prejudice the appellant and nothing turns on it.
29.Having subjected the evidence adduce to a fresh scrutiny as we are bound, in the circumstances of this case to do, we find that there was sufficient evidence to warrant sustaining the decision of the trial court. The 1st appellate court therefore arrived at the correct decision albeit without undertaking the legal mandate placed on it.
30.In the premises, we find no reason to disturb the conviction.
31.As regards the sentence, the principles guiding interference with sentencing by the appellate Court were properly, in our view, set out in S v Malgas 2001 (1) SACR 469 (SCA) at para 12 where it was held that:
32.This Court dealt extensively with the principles that guide interference with sentencing in Bernard Kimani Gacheru v R. [2002] eKLR where it held that:
33.In the case of Muryani Nyanje v Republic [2006] eKLR, the court opined that:
34.Similarly, the court in Lekasia Lemalia v Republic [2017] eKLR stated that:
35.While we find no compelling reason to interfere with the sentence imposed by the trial court, the appellant took issue with the imposition of the sentence to run consecutively.
36.Section 14 of the Criminal Procedure Code provides for circumstances in which a court can direct sentences to run concurrently or consecutively and provides in part as follows:-“(1)Subject to sub-section (3) when a person is convicted at one trial of two or more distinct offences, the court may sentence him, for those offences, to the several punishments prescribed therefor which the court is competent to impose; and those punishments when consisting of imprisonment shall commence the one after the expiration of the other in the order the court may direct, unless the court directs that the punishments shall run concurrently.
37.Judiciary Sentencing Policy Guidelines gives guidance on the issue in the following terms:13.Where the offences emanate from a single transaction, the sentences should run concurrently. However, where the offences are committed in the course of multiple transactions and where there are multiple victims, the sentence should run consecutively.14.The discretion to impose concurrent or consecutive sentences lies in the court.
38.In the case of Sawedi Mukasa s/o Abdulla Aligwaisa [1946] 13 EACA 97, the predecessor of this Court in a judgment read by Sir Joseph Sheridan stated that the practice is that where a person commits more than one offence at the same time and in the same transaction, save in very exceptional circumstances, concurrent sentences ought to be imposed. Similarly, this Court in Peter Mbugua Kabui v Republic [2016] eKLR expressed itself on the matter as hereunder:
39.The same position was adopted in Peter Mageria v Republic [1983] eKLR where this Court held that:
40.This Court in Peter Mbugua Kabui v Republic [2016] eKLR expressed itself on the matter as hereunder:
41.We have considered the sentence imposed and find no reason to interfere with the exercise of the discretion by the learned trial magistrate as regards the sentence. Accordingly, find no merit in the appeal which we hereby dismiss in its entirety.
42.It is so ordered.
DATED AND DELIVERED AT MOMBASA THIS 24TH DAY OF MAY, 2024.J. LESIIT..........................JUDGE OF APPEALM. GACHOKA C.Arb, FCIArb...........................JUDGE OF APPEALG.V. ODUNGA..........................JUDGE OF APPEALI certify that this is the true copy of the originalSignedDEPUTY REGISTRAR