Two Kenya Rugby Stars Charged with Gang-Raping a Female Musician, Released on Sh500,000 Cash Bail

Two Kenyan rugby players were on Monday arraigned before Nairobi Chief Magistrate Francis Wandayi to face charges of gang-raping a female musician two months ago.

Lawrence Frank Wanyama and Alex Mahaga Olaba who appear for Kenya Harlequin Rugby Club were brought before the court after investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

The two pleaded not guilty and were freed on a Sh500,000 cash bail each. Wanyama and Magaga asked the Magistrate to release them since they want to represent Kenya in the remaining International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens series and would comply to all conditions issued by court.

The charge sheet indicates that the duo committed the act at Seefa apartment in Highrise, Nairobi on February 11th. In her statement to the police, the singer alleged that on the fateful day, which was her birthday, she attended a party in Kilimani together with two rugby players.

She said that she only knew one of two and after the party, she went home with them, but they took advantage of her inebriated state and raped her repeatedly. She reported the incident to the police after a test showed that she was pregnant.

However, the two rugby stars have maintained that she consented to sex and that the woman blackmailed them by threatening to publish the story if she wasn’t paid.

If convicted, the two could face up to 15 years in jail in accordance to Sexual Offences Act.The hearing of the case is set for May 16th.