Rugby players Frank Wanyama and Alex Mahaga
were charged with gang rape on Monday.
The
Kenya Harlequin FC players
are accused of sexually assaulting a musician at
Seefa Apartments in Highrise, Nairobi, on February 10.
They denied the charge before Nairobi Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi.
Their lawyers Wafula simiyu and Ombui Ratemo asked for lenient bond terms noting they have been contracted by the national rugby team so they are not flight risks and that they
underwent DNA tests.
The lawyers also said their clients need their passports for travel to represent Kenya in the forthcoming rugby series.
The sportsmen were arrested after the woman claimed they attacked her when she went to one of their houses after her birthday celebration on that date.
She told her story via social media, where she claimed she was drugged before the ordeal, and added that she was pregnant.
“I was slipping in and out of consciousness maybe due to shock but I was helpless. I couldn’t fight two men who play rugby professionally. Obviously they were stronger hence I let them do whatever they wanted to do the whole night,” she claimed.
“I could’ve reported the case to police but I was in denial, shock, pain and exhausted. I didn’t want to report also because of the profile of one of these rugby players."
In her police statement, the musician said she tried to confront Wanyama with the allegations but he dismissed her telling her to look for a lawyer in case she decides to go public.
Wanyama accused her of attempting to extort him.
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Wanyama and Mahaga were freed on bonds of Sh1 million or cash bails of Sh500,000 each.
If convicted, the two will face at least 15 years in prison and, depending on the circumstances, they could face life imprisonment.
The case will be heard on May 16.