Introduction to the Law of Evidence in Kenya.pdf

This gives foundational knowledge on the Law of Evidence, in Kenya.

1. Francis Kariuki
11/8/2018

2. Introduction
Incivilandcriminalcases,wherethereisnon-
admissionofliabilityorpleaofnotguilty,the
plaintiff/defendantorprosecution/accusedhaveto
proveavarietyoffacts.
Factsthathavetobeprovedaredeterminedbythe
substantivelawconcerned.Thisinturndetermines
thefactsinissueandanyrelevantfactstothefactsin
issue.
Whatfactsmustyouprovetosucceedinanegligence
case?Breachofcontract?Murdercharge?
Inbothinstances,thePlaintiffandtheprosecution
mustestablishtheircasesbypresentingtothecourt
evidence.
11/8/2018

3. What is Evidence?
AccordingtoKeane,Evidenceis:
“informationbywhichfactstendtobeproved,andthe
lawofevidenceisthatbodyoflegalrulesregulatingthe
meansbywhichfactsmaybeprovedincourtsoflawand
tribunalsandarbitrationsinwhichthestrictrulesof
evidenceapply.”
Sec.3(1)oftheEvidenceActdefinesEvidenceas:
“…themeansbywhichanallegedmatteroffact,the
truthofwhichissubmittedtoinvestigation,isprovedor
disproved;andwithoutprejudicetotheforegoing
generality,includesstatementsbyaccusedpersons,
admissions,andobservationbythecourtinitsjudicial
capacity.”
11/8/2018

4. Why Evidence Law?
Evidencelawisconcernedwiththeproof
ordisproofoffactsincourtsoflaw.
Rulesofevidenceactasaguidetothe
relevanceandadmissibilityofevidence,
andtheweighttobegiventoaparticular
pieceofevidence.
Animportantbranchoflawin
dispensationofjustice.
Supportsotherbranchesoflawindispute
resolution.
11/8/2018

5. Sources of Evidence Law
RulesofEvidencearemainlycontained
intheEvidenceAct,Cap.80.TheAct
replacedtheIndianEvidenceActof1872,
on10
th
Dec1963.
Caselaw.
Commonlaw.
OtherActsofParliament.
ConstitutionofKenya2010-Articles35,
49(1)(d),50(2)(j)-(l),50(4),(6)etc
11/8/2018

6. Facts and Types of Facts
Sec.3(1)oftheActdefinestheterm‘fact’inaninclusive
manneras-
“(a)anything,stateofthings,orrelationofthings,
capableofbeingperceivedbythesenses;and
(b)anymentalconditionofwhichanypersonis
conscious.”
Whenisafactprovedordisproved?
Afactisprovedwhen,afterconsideringthematters
beforeit,thecourtbelievesittoexist,orconsidersits
existencesoprobablethataprudentmanought,inthe
circumstancesoftheparticularcase,toactuponthe
suppositionthatitexists,Sec3(2).
11/8/2018

7. Facts…
Afactisdisprovedwhen,afterconsideringthe
mattersbeforeit,thecourteitherbelievesthatit
doesnotexist,orconsidersitsnon-existence
soprobablethataprudentmanought,inthe
circumstancesoftheparticularcase,toactupon
thesuppositionthatitdoesnotexist,Sec3(3).
Afactisnotprovedwhenitisneitherprovednor
disproved,Sec3(4).
Althoughasageneralrule,allfactsmustbeproved,
certainfactsneednotbeproved(Judicialnotice,
presumptionsandformaladmissions).
11/8/2018

8. Types of Facts
a)Factsinissue/principalfacts:thesearefactsthata
claimantmustprovetosucceed.Forexample;
Inacontractualdispute,whereDdeniesthe
contractualrelationship,theprincipalfactsPmust
provearethoseestablishingformationofacontract
betweenPandD,breachandthelosssuffered.
Whataretheprincipalfactsinanegligencecase?
Theft?Defamation?
Incivilmatters,factsinissuecanbefoundinthe
pleadings.
Incriminalcases,factsinissuecanbeisolatedfromthe
chargesheetorindictment.
11/8/2018

9. b)Relevantfacts:thesearefactswhich
helptoprovethatafactinissueexists.
Suchtypeofevidenceiscalled
circumstantialevidence.
IfthefactinissueiswhetherAshotX,
aneyewitnesswouldbethebestwayto
prove.However,ifsuchevidenceis
unavailable,thefactthatafterthe
incident,apolicemanfoundthegunin
A’scarwouldbearelevantfactthat
assistsinprovingthefactinissue.
11/8/2018

10. c)Collateralfacts:factsthatsupportor
corroborateotherfacts.Thereare3typesof
suchfacts:
Factsregardingthecompetenceofwitnesses.
Factsregardingthecredibilityofawitness.
Preliminaryfacts:thesearefactsrelatingtothe
admissibilityofevidence,e.g.therulethat
confessionsmustnotbeobtainedthroughuse
ofoppression.Ifanaccusedhasbeentortured
toconfess,evidencecanbeadducedtodecide
whetherthatconfessionisadmissible.
11/8/2018

11. Types of Evidence
Oralevidence/testimony/directevidence-
oralstatementofawitnessmadeonoathin
court.
Itisofferedasevidenceoftruthofwhatissaid.
Itisnormallydirectevidenceofmatterswhich
thewitnesshasfirst-handknowledge-facts
experiencedwithoneofhisfivesenses.
Hearsayevidence.
Documentaryevidence-includesmaps,plans,
graphs,drawings,photographs,discs,tapes,
videotapes,films,negativesetc.
11/8/2018

12. Types of Evidence
Adocumentmaybeintroducedasevidenceofthe
truthofitscontentsortoshowthatitexistsorto
proveitscondition,inwhichcaseitisregardedas
realevidence.
Realevidence-usuallyamaterialobjectproduced
forinspection.
Circumstantialevidence-commonwherethereisa
combinationofcircumstances,noneofwhichcan
raiseareasonableconvictionUNLESStaken
together.
Primaryevidence/the‘bestevidencerule’-means
theoriginaldocumentproducedtocourt-sec65.
Secondaryevidence-copiesoforiginaldocument.
11/8/2018

13. 11/8/2018