This archive report was first published on 9 August 2019.
On Thursday, August 8, 2019, Kenyans took to social media to express their views after two rugby players were found guilty of rape.
Frank Wanyama and Alex Olaba, who play for Kenya Harlequins, are now set to learn their fate on Friday, August 9, 2019.
According to a verdict delivered by Milimani Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku, Wanyama and Olaba had raped a woman on February 10, 2018, at an apartment in Highrise, Nairobi County.
The rape allegations against the duo surfaced in early 2018 when a woman, identified 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 alleged that she went to the hospital the next morning but did not report the incident to the police until a test showed she was pregnant.
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, with some calling for her to report the matter to the police and others doubting the rape claims.
The players were briefly held in police custody before being taken to hospital for medical examinations.
As the news of the case broke on Thursday and the impending sentence, it hit Kenyans hard, eliciting mixed reactions online.
Some of the reactions include:
- 'Good news here. A man MUST respect the nature of a woman. You can't rape a woman and expect to sail through. I applaud the verdict of the court.' - Mkenya Halisi (@AderaJacob)
- 'Terrible! Should be slapped with a lengthy sentence.' - MavMérc™ (@Kenreezym)
- 'At what point do men lose control? Rape is a crime against humanity.' - Simonpeter murimi (@MurimiMwihaki)
- 'My good friend Evelyn was the led prosecutor and am proud of her good work. Justice served well.' - Essie Karanja (@MariguKaranja)
