The High Court has upheld the six-year prison sentence handed to former Kenya Sevens rugby player Alex Olaba for attempting to murder a key witness in a gang-rape case, dismissing his appeal in its entirety.
According to a report by Cyprian Nyakundi, the court ruled that Olaba’s conviction, which was meted out in May 2023, was supported by strong and credible prosecution evidence. Among the key elements presented in court were recorded conversations and a Ksh 10,000 down payment he made to an undercover police officer who had posed as a hitman.
The court further noted that the trial magistrate had properly considered Olaba’s defence and mitigation before delivering the judgment. It described the six-year term set to run concurrently across all counts as fair and proportionate in light of the seriousness of the offence.
The case has drawn widespread public attention due to Olaba’s past as a national rugby player who once represented Kenya on the international stage before his career was derailed by criminal proceedings.
Alex Olaba Mahaga, the former Strathmore Leos, Kenya Harlequin and Kenya Sevens star was once viewed as one of Kenya’s most promising young talents. A bright student from Alliance High School, Olaba balanced academics and sport with discipline and ambition. On September 23, 2014, he was set to make his debut for the Kenya Sevens team, just a year after completing his secondary education, marking what many expected to be the beginning of a long and successful rugby career.
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