By Daily Sports on August 18, 2019
A Kenyan court has sentenced two rugby players to 15 years in prison for the gang rape of a female singer at a birthday party last year.
The international rugby sevens players Frank Wanyama, 24, and Alex Olaba, 23, were earlier this month found guilty of the rape in a case which highlighted what some activists refer to as a tradition of “rape culture” in rugby.
Milimani High Court Martha Mutuku handed down the sentences of 15 years imprisonment on Friday, saying “a deterrent sentence is necessary.”
The trial was held in-camera, so details of the evidence provided were not made public.
Mutuku declined a request from the defence lawyers that their clients be allowed to avoid jail time due to their youth and the fact that they had shown remorse.
Wanyama and Olaba, who were both university students when the rape took place, play for the Nairobi Harlequins club and have played for the national sevens team in global tournaments.
Wanyama captained Kenya’s second sevens team to win the Victoria Sevens tournament in Zimbabwe in March last year, while Olaba has played as a winger for both the sevens and 15-aside national teams.
Both were suspended from playing when their trial began.
Last year after a series of allegations against rugby players, gender violence activist Nafula Wafula created a petition urging the Kenya Rugby Union to take measures to address accusations of sexual assault, including giving mandatory training to players.
“The rape culture that is ingrained in the sports industry must be dealt with accordingly,” she wrote in the petition which gathered just over 10,000 signatures. (AFP)
Source Daily Sports
Posted August 18, 2019
You may also like...
Tuchel Says Pulisic Doubtful For Chelsea, Villa Clash...
We’ll Beat Ghana In Abuja - Oshimen
Ronaldo And Ramos Wanted Me At Real Madrid...
Nigeria football sponsors ‘fear lesbianism’
A woman Could Coach Barcelona, Says Valverde
Delta Football Association holds elective congress June 13,...

Onuachu lacks rhythm in Eagles setup – Lawal
Ukah faces Osigwe in historic all-Nigerian PFL clash
UCL: Lookman set for Atletico return against Barca
Organisers brace for National Schools Football tourney
Semi Final Teams Emerge As Coast Clear For Final Ceremony Of 7th U-13 JOF Kids Cup Tournament
Okoye keeps seventh clean sheet in Como draw
Nnadozie relishes FA Cup progress
Akpokona recovering well, doesn’t need assistance – Son
NOC Plans To Mark 2026 Olympic Day On June 27
Onojuvwevwo sets world lead as Ogundiran breaks NAIA record
Ethiopians sweep top spots in Yenagoa 10km race
Remo, 3SC rekindle South West derby in Ikenne
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,689 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,010 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,928 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,531 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,460 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,364 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,223 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,768 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,955 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,464 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,870 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,340 views)