This archive report was first published on 16 August 2019.
On August 16, 2019, the Milimani High Court handed down a 15-year prison sentence to two Kenyan rugby sevens players, Frank Wanyama and Alex Olaba, for their role in a gang rape case.
The case highlighted the issue of 'rape culture' in rugby, a concern raised by some activists, including gender violence activist Nafula Wafula, who created a petition last year calling for measures to address accusations of sexual assault.
Wanyama, 24, and Olaba, 23, were university students when the rape took place and played for the Nairobi Harlequins club and the national sevens team in global tournaments.
Despite their youth and claims of remorse, the court declined a request from the defence lawyers to spare them jail time, with Judge Martha Mutuku stating that a deterrent sentence was necessary.
Both players were suspended from playing when their trial began and had played for the national team in various tournaments, including the Victoria Sevens tournament in Zimbabwe, where Wanyama captained Kenya's second sevens team to victory.
