CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM in KENYA: an Audit
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Report Cover copy.pdf 1 19/01/2017 12:30 National Council on the Administration of Justice CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN KENYA: An Audit Understanding pre-trial detention in respect to case flow management and conditions of detention o ROD Kenya Resource Oriented Development Initiatives CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN KENYA: An Audit Published by: National Council on Administration of Justice (NCAJ) Supreme Court Building, City Hall Way, Nairobi P. O. Box 30041 – 00100, Nairobi Tel. +254 20 2221221 [email protected] www.judiciary.go.ke and: Legal Resources Foundation Trust Lenana Road – Kilimani, P. O. BOX: 34720-00100, Nairobi Cell: +254 722 209822/ 735 573910 Email: [email protected] | Web: www.lrf-kenya.or.ke Skypemail: legalresourcesfoundationtrust and: Resource Oriented Development Initiatives (RODI) 2nd Floor Ruiru Catholic Church Parish Hall Cell: +254 - 720 - 717419 | +254 - 0722 - 307576 Email: [email protected] © 2016 National Council on Administration of Justice (NCAJ) in collaboration with Legal Resources Foundation Trust and Resources Oriented Development Initiatives This publication was funded by Open Society Foundations. ISBN: 978-9966-020-109 Copyright in the volume as a whole is vested in the NCAJ, LRF and RODI Kenya: Permits free production of the extracts from any of its publication provided that due acknowledgment is given and a copy of the publication carrying the extracts is sent to the publishers’ offices. Printing and Publishing Consultants: Ascent Limited Email: [email protected] 2 12 13 14 11 10 15 9 6 16 18 8 7 17 5 4 3 1.Mombasa 10.Kakamega 2.Taita Taveta 11.Uasin Gishu 3.Makueni 12.Turkana 4.Machakos 13.Marsabit 5.Nairobi 14.Isiolo 2 6.Nakuru 15.Meru 7.Nyamira 16.Nyeri 8.Kisii 17.Murang’a 1 9.Kisumu 18.Garissa 3 CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN KENYA: An Audit Table of contents Preliminary Acronyms…………………………………………………………..................…………….......…………xx Glossary…………………………………………………………….................………….......………….xxii Foreword………………………….……………………………………..................………..........………xxiv Acknowledgement.……………………………………………………...................……………......……xxvi Overview and Executive Summary ………………………………………….....................………....……xxviii Methodology ………………………………………….....................………....……................................... xxxi Chapter 1: Contextual Analysis Historical Development of Criminal Justice System.………....…......…35 Legal Framework of the Criminal Justice System.………........……….36 Criminal Procedure Code.………………………………………………….........………………………….37 Safeguards against the abuse of Police arresting powers..………………………....…………..........………….38 Remand of pre-trial detainees in prison.……………………………………………………..........………….40 Bond and bail processes..………………………………………………………………..........…………….41 Legal representation..………………………………………………………………….............…………44 Prosecution under special legislation – Terrorism.…………………………………………………............…44 Vulnerable groups in the Criminal Justice System.…………………………………………............…………46 Child offenders.……………....…………………………………………………............……………46 Mentally ill offenders............…………………………………………………………………………48 Immigrants..............…………………………………………………………………………………49 Women.................…………………………………………………………………………………...52 Pre - Trial Detention................…………………………………………54 Legal framework on pretrial detention.........…………………………………………………………………55 The Regional level............…………………………………………………………………………………56 4 Right to liberty and security of the person .......…………………………………………………………58 Notification .........………………………………………………………………………………….....59 Appearance before a Judicial or other Authority ............…………………………………………………60 Conditions of Pre-trial Detention In Kenya ................……………………………………………………61 Standards of Conditions of Detention ......………………………………………………………………63 Formalities – Registration, Record Keeping and Communication ...………………………………………63 Access to Counsel and Legal Assistance .....……………………………………………………………63 Conditions of detention .........…………………………………………………………………………64 Special regime .........…………………………………………………………………………………64 Accommodation ......…………………………………………………………………………………64 Food and water .........…………………………………………………………………………………64 Medical care ............…………………………………………………………………………………65 Hygiene ...................…………………………………………………………………………………65 Clothing ..................…………………………………………………………………………………65 Property ...................…………………………………………………………………………………66 Women in detention .....………………………………………………………………………………66 Vulnerable persons in detention .........…………………………………………………………………67 Case Flow Management......……………………………………………67 The Judiciary.......…………………………………………………………………………………………68 Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.........……………………………………….........………………71 Legal representation.................………………………………………………….................……………….72 The National Police Service.......………………………………....................…………………………………73 Kenya Prisons Service.............………………………………….............…………………………………..75 Probation and Aftercare Services......…………………………............……………………………………..76 Children’s services.....………………………………...................…………………………………………78 Chapter 2: Case Flow Management Findings 2.1. Kenya Police findings.................................................................81 Methodology..............…………….………………………………………………………..............………81 Cell Register Sampling.........…………………………………………………………………………81 Charge Register Sampling.........………………………………………………………………………82 5 CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN KENYA: An Audit 1. Cell Register Findings...……………............………………………83 Number of detentions in police cells......……………………………………………………………………83 Offence or reason for police detention........…………………………………………………………………85 Nuisance offences...………………………………………………..................………………………86 Traffic offences..................……………………………………………........…………………………86 Immigration offence......……………………………………………………................………………87 State offences.....……………………….…………………………..............................………………87 • State offences: Alcohol regulations...………………………….............…………………………..87 • State offences: environmental laws.....…………………….........…………………………………88 • State offences: Gambling.....………………………….....……………………………………….89 • State offences: others forms of regulation........……………….............……………………………89 Offences involving violence..........…………………………………………………………………….89 Property offences.....…………………………………………………………………………………90 Day of arrest.......………………………………………………………………………………… ………90 Type of offence and day of arrest ……………….......…………………………………………………90 Reason for release......…………………………………………………………………………………......90 Duration of detention in police cells.......……………………………………………………………………92 Constitutional provisions.......…………………………………………………………………………92 Record-keeping………………………………………....………………………………........………92 Overall trends...............………………………………………………………………………………93 Trends by location........………………………………………………………………………………94 Trends by day of week...........…………………………………………………………………………95 Compliance with 24-hour rule and state liability..........…………………………………………………96 Estimating liability for deprivation of liberty.........………………………………………………………96 Duration, reason for release and day of arrest...........……………………………………………………96 Condition of person on detention and on release..........………………………………………………………97 Condition on detention.........………………….………………………………………………………97 Condition on release...........…………………………………………………………………………98 2. Charge Register Findings......…………...….............................….98 Number of charges to court……………….....…………………………………………………………….98 Conversion rate of arrests to charges in court, by location...........……………………………………….99 Ratio of petty offence to serious offence charges............……………………………………………….101 Types of offences in charges to court........………………………………………………………………….102 Conversion rate of arrest to charges, by offence type..........……………………………………………103 6 Duration of charges........………………………………………………………………………………….105 Duration from offence to court.....…………………………………………………………………….105 Duration from offence to result.........………………………………………………………………….105 Conclusion........…………………............………………………………………………………105 Recommendations ..........…………………………………………………………………………….106 Legislative framework ..…………………………………………………………………………….106 Regulatory offences....…………………………………………………………………………….106 Policy and Practice.....…………………………………………………………………………….108 • Halting unlawful arrests........………………………………………………………………….108 • Ensuring compliance with the 24-hour rule........………………………………………………….108 • Improving prosecution.....……………………………………………………………………….109 2.2. Subordinate Court’s Findings....................................................110 Subordinate Courts – Magistrates’ Courts.....……………………………………………………………….110 Methodology.....………………………………………………………………………………….............110 Court Register Sampling.....………………………………………………………………………….110 Findings.........................…………………………………………………………………………….111 Number of enrolments in Magistrates’ courts.........…………………………………………………….111 Number of accused.........…………………………………………………………………………..113 Repeat accused......………………………………………………………………………………….113 Offences.........................……………………………………………………………………………….113 Categories of offences....………………………………………………………………………….114 Property offences...……………………………………………………………………………….115 Nuisance offences..……………………………………………………………………………….115 State regulation offences.....……………………………………………………………………….115 Simplification of categories.....…………………………………………………………………….116 Bail.....…………………………………………………………………………………........................116