Section 157 of Evidence Act CAP 80: Discretion of court to compel witness to answer question as to credit
(1) If any question asked relates to a matter not relevant to the suit or proceeding except in so far as it affects the credit of the witness by injuring his character, the court shall decide whether or not the witness shall be compelled to answer it, and may, if it does not so compel him, warn the witness that he is not obliged to answer.
(2) In exercising its discretion under this section, the court shall have regard to the following considerations—
(a) such questions are proper if they are of such a nature that the truth of the imputation conveyed by them would seriously affect the opinion of the court as to the credibility of the witness on the matter to which he testifies;
(b) such questions are improper if the imputation which they convey relates to matters so remote in time, or of such a character, that the truth of the imputation would not affect, or would affect in a slight degree, the opinion of the court as to the credibility of the witness on the matter to which he testifies;
(c) such questions are improper if there is a great disproportion
between the importance of the imputation made against the witness’s character and the importance of his evidence.
(3) The court may, if it sees fit, draw from the witness’s refusal to answer, the inference that the answer, if given, would be unfavourable to the witness.
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- Section 158 - Necessity for grounds before attacking character
No such question as is referred to in section 157 of this Act ought to be asked unless the person asking it has reasonable grounds for thinking that the imputation which it conveys is well founded.
- Section 159 - Indecent or scandalous questions
The court may forbid any questions or inquiries which it regards as indecent or scandalous, although such questions or inquiries may have some bearing on the questions before the court, unless they...
- Section 160 - Insulting or annoying questions
The court shall forbid any question which appears to it to be intended to insult or annoy, or which, though proper in itself, appears to the court needlessly offensive in form.
- Section 161 - Discretion to allow cross-examination of own witness
The court may, in its discretion, permit the person who calls a witness to put any questions to him which might be put in cross-examination by the adverse party.
- Section 162 - Exclusion of evidence to contradict a witness
When a witness has been asked and has answered any question which is relevant to the proceedings only in so far as it tends to shake his credit by injuring his character, no evidence shall be given to...
- Section 163 - Evidence to impeach the credit of a witness
(1) The credit of a witness may be impeached in the following ways by the adverse party, or, with the consent of the court, by the party who calls him—
(a) by the evidence of persons who testify...
- Section 164 - Circumstantial questions to confirm evidence
When a witness the truthfulness of whose evidence it is intended to confirm gives evidence of any fact, he may be questioned as to any other circumstances which he observed at or near the time or...
- Section 165 - Proof of consistency by former statements
In order to show that the testimony of a witness is consistent any former statement made by such witness, whether written or oral, relating to the same fact at or about the time when the fact took...
- Section 166 - Evidence to test statement of person not available as witness
Whenever any statement admissible under section 33 or section 34 of this Act is proved, all matters which might have been proved if that person had been called as a witness and had denied upon...
- Section 167 - Refreshing memory by reference to contemporaneous writing
(1) A witness may, while under examination, refresh his memory by referring to any writing made by himself at the time of the transaction concerning which he is questioned, or made so soon afterwards...
- Section 168 - Reference to accurate contemporaneous record though facts themselves not specifically recalled
A witness may testify to facts mentioned in any such writing as is referred to in section 167 of this Act although he has no specific recollection of the facts themselves, if he is sure that the facts...
- Section 169 - Rights of adverse party as to contemporaneous writing
Any writing referred to in section 167 or section 168 of this Act shall be produced and shown to the adverse party if he requires it, and such party may, if he pleases, cross-examine the witness...
- Section 170 - Production of documents of doubtful admissibility
(1) A witness summoned to produce a document shall, if it is in his possession or power, bring it to court notwithstanding any objection which there may be to its production or to its admissibility,...
- Section 171 - Document produced in answer to notice to be given as evidence if required
When a party calls for a document which he has given the other party notice to produce, and such document is produced and inspected by the party calling for its production, he is bound to give it as...
- Section 172 - Consequence of refusal to produce document in answer to notice
When a party refuses to produce a document for which he has had notice to produce, he cannot afterwards use the document as evidence without the consent of the other party or the order of the court.
- Section 173 - Extended powers of court for purpose of obtaining proper evidence
(1) A judge or magistrate may, in order to discover or to obtain proper evidence, ask any question he pleases, in any form, at any time, of any witness, or of the parties about any fact whether or not...
- Section 174 - Deleted by Act No. 7 of 2007, Sch.
Deleted by Act No. 7 of 2007, Sch.
- Section 175 - Effect of improper admission or rejection
The improper admission or rejection of evidence shall not of itself be ground for a new trial or for reversal of any decision in a case if it shall appear to the court before which the objection is...
- Section 176 - Mode of proof of entries in bankers’ books
Subject to the provisions of this Chapter of this Act, a copy of any entry in a banker’s book shall in all legal proceedings be received as prima facie evidence of such entry, and of the matters,...
- Section 177 - Proof and verification of copy
(1) A copy of an entry in a banker’s book shall not be received in evidence under section 176 of this Act unless it be first proved that—
(a) the book was, at the time of making the entry, one of...
- Section 178 - Restriction on compelling production of banker’s book
A banker or officer of a bank shall not, in any proceedings to which the bank is not a party, be compellable to produce any banker’s book the contents of which can be proved under this Chapter of this...
- Section 179 - Inspection of bankers’ books
(1) On the application of any party to proceedings a court may order that such party be at liberty to inspect and take copies of any entries in a banker’s book for any of the purposes, of such...
- Section 180 - Warrant to investigate
(1) Where it is proved on oath to a judge or magistrate that in fact, or according to reasonable suspicion, the inspection of any banker’s book is necessary or desirable for the purpose of any...
- Section 181 - Costs
(1) The costs of any application to a court under or for the purposes of this Chapter of this Act and the costs of anything done or to be done under an order of a court made under or for the purposes...
- Section 182 - Saving for other laws
Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, nothing in this Act shall be deemed to derogate from the provisions of any other written law which relate to matters of evidence.
- Section 185 - Cessation of application of Indian Evidence Act
(1) From and after the commencement of this Act the Evidence Act, 1872, India shall cease to extend or apply to Kenya.
(2) For the purposes of sections 21 and 23 of the Interpretation and General...