Kenya Rugby players, Wanyama and Olaba found guilty of rape

Two Kenya Rugby Sevens players Frank Wanyama and Alex Olaba have been found guilty of rape by a Nairobi court and will be sentenced today (Friday).

Milimani Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku in a verdict delivered in camera on Thursday ruled that Frank Wanyama and Alex Olaba had raped a woman named W.A in February 10 last year at an apartment in Highrise, Nairobi County.

The rape allegations emerged on March 31, 2018.

The two, who play for Kenya Harlequin FC were arrested after a woman identified in court as "W. A." accused them of raping her after she had agreed to go to one of the players' house for her birthday on February 10, 2018.

The victim alleges that she went to hospital the next morning, but did not report the incident to the police, not until a test showed she was pregnant.

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According to her online posts, she blamed Wanyama, accusing the player of refusing to take responsibility when she reached out to him.

Screenshots of the 'expose' went viral online and elicited mixed reactions on social media. Some wanted her to report the matter to police, while others doubted the rape claims.

The players were briefly held in police custody before they were taken to hospital for medical examination.

According to police, the players, both of whom play for Kenya Harlequins, said "W.A" (as she was identified) started sending them text messages demanding money when she realised she was pregnant.

In their statements, Wanyama and Olaba said they knew the accuser and that they were together on the day she claimed she was sexually assaulted. The players also maintained that the sexual contact was consensual.

"W.A" had also recorded her statement at the same station.

Wanyama and Olaba were then freed on a Sh1 million bond with a surety of the same amount or a cash bail of 500,000 shillings and ordered to surrender their passports on April 23, 2018.