High court upholds six-year jail term for ex-rugby star Alex Olaba in witness assassination case
The judge found that the prosecution had successfully proved that Olaba conspired to eliminate the witness in an effort to interfere with the course of justice.
Former Kenya Sevens rugby player Alex Olaba has lost his bid to overturn a six-year prison sentence after the High Court upheld his conviction for attempting to kill a key witness in a gang-rape case.
Delivering judgment, the court ruled that Olaba's conviction was sound and supported by overwhelming evidence presented during his trial. The judge found that the prosecution had successfully proved that Olaba conspired to eliminate the witness in an effort to interfere with the course of justice.
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In its detailed decision, the court pointed to recorded conversations and a Sh10,000 down payment made to an undercover police officer — who posed as a hired killer — as clear proof of Olaba's involvement in the murder plot. The court noted that these actions demonstrated a well-coordinated plan to silence the witness, who was central to an ongoing gang-rape prosecution.
"I am satisfied from the evidence that the meeting between the prosecution witnesses and the appellant clearly established an agreement to commit the offence," the judge stated, adding that the police operation had effectively exposed Olaba's criminal intent.
The court dismissed Olaba's claims that he had been framed and that the trial court had misinterpreted the evidence. It further held that the trial magistrate had properly weighed his defence, submissions, and mitigation before delivering both the conviction and sentence.
"The trial court applied the correct principles and arrived at a fair and proportionate sentence. The decision to have all the counts run concurrently is just and reasonable," the judge ruled.
With the dismissal of the appeal, Olaba will continue serving his six-year prison term, effectively ending his legal battle to overturn the ruling.
The case stems from an incident in which Olaba was accused of plotting to assassinate a key witness in a separate gang-rape case in which he had been charged alongside another rugby player.
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