PART VI
TRIALS
GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO TRIALS
A. - Powers of Courts
(a) Powers Generally
168.-(1) Where a person is, at one trial by the High Court, convicted of two or more offences, the High Court may sentence him for those offences to the several punishments prescribed for them; and when consisting of imprisonment, such punishments shall commence the one after the expiration of the other in such order as the High Court may direct unless the High Court directs that those punishments shall run concurrently.
(2) Where a person is convicted at one trial of two or more offences by a subordinate court the court may, subject to the provisions of subsection (3), sentence him for those offences to the several punishments prescribed for them and 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 such order as the court may direct, unless the court directs that the punishments shall run concurrently.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2), a subordinate court shall not, in any case in which it has convicted a person at one trial of two or more offences, be competent–
(a) where the court imposes substantive sentences of imprisonment only, to impose consecutive sentences of imprisonment which exceed in the aggregate–
(i) in any case in which of any of the offences
of which the offender has been convicted is an offence in respect of which a subordinate court may lawfully pass a sentence of imprisonment for a term exceeding five years, a term of imprisonment for ten years; or
(ii) in any other case, a term of imprisonment for eight years;
(b) where the court imposes sentences of fines only, to impose sentences of fines which exceed in the aggregate–
(i) in any case in which any of the offences of which the offender is convicted is an offence in respect of which a subordinate court may lawfully impose a fine exceeding ten thousand shillings, a sum equal to thrice the amount of which the subordinate court may so lawfully impose;
(ii) in any other case, a sum of thirty thousand shillings:
Provided that the aggregate of consecutive sentences of imprisonment in default of payment of fines shall not exceed a term of imprisonment of eight years;
(c) where the court passes a combination of a substantive sentence or sentences of imprisonment and a fine or fines, to impose sentences which exceed–
(i) an aggregate of consecutive sentences of imprisonment whether substantive sentences of imprisonment or sentences of imprisonment in default of payment of fine, of ten years; and
(ii) a total of fines of thirty thousand shillings or where any of the offences of which the offender is convicted is an offence in respect of which a subordinate court may lawfully impose a fine exceeding ten thousand shillings, a sum equal to twice the amount of fine which the subordinate court may so lawfully impose.
(4) For the purpose of appeal or confirmation, the aggregate imposed under this section in cases of convictions for two or more offences at one trial shall be deemed to be a single sentence.
(5) Notwithstanding subsection (4), where two or more sentences of imprisonment are directed to run concurrently, only the longer term of those sentences of imprisonment shall be taken into account for computing the aggregate of sentences of imprisonment for the purposes of this section.
(6) Where a court convicts a person in a case which involves sexual offence under the Penal Code, the court shall pass a sentence as prescribed in that Act and in accordance with the Minimum Sentences Act.
Joint sentence following multiple convictions - national proceedings
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