<p class="ql-align-justify">JUDGMENT OF THE COURT</p><p class="ql-align-justify">In the well-known case of OKENO v. REPUBLIC [1972] EA 32 the predecessor of this Court stated the duty of a first appellate court to be:-</p><p class="ql-align-justify"><em>“..... to reconsider the evidence, evaluate it itself and draw its own conclusions in deciding whether the judgment of the trial court should be upheld.”</em></p><p class="ql-align-justify">On 8^th July, 1993 a total of seven persons appeared before the then Principal Magistrate of Nyeri, Muga Apondi Esq., charged on one count of robbery with violence contrary to <em>section 296(2</em>) of the Penal Code. Those people were listed in the charge-sheet as:-</p><p class="ql-align-justify">1. Peter Ndungu Ndirangu alias Kipande</p><p class="ql-align-justify">2. James Moses Moustache (the appellant herein).</p><p class="ql-align-justify">3. Antony Maina Moustache</p><p class="ql-align-justify">4. Robinson Mwangi Gachanja</p><p class="ql-align-justify">5. James Gichuki Kirahira</p><p class="ql-align-justify">6. Evantus Kariuki Kiune</p><p class="ql-align-justify">7. John Muthee Wangari alias Maina</p><p class="ql-align-justify">The seven persons were thereafter tried on the one charge and at the end of the prosecution’s case, the trial magistrate held that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against the 6^th and…</p>