Kenyan Footballer Collins Okoth Faces Murder Trial

Former Kenyan international footballer Collins "Gattuso" Okoth is currently on trial at Milimani High Court in Nairobi, facing murder charges that have brought renewed attention to the challenges and struggles faced by Kenyan athletes, both on and off the field. 

The trial, presided over by Justice Alexander Muteti, commenced with emotional testimonies from the parents of the two-year-old victim, Alex Wanga Adhola and Beatrice Awuor, detailing the tragic events leading to their daughter Scuvian Muyer's death. According to the prosecution, the incident occurred between April 21 and 22, 2024, when the child was allegedly assaulted and subsequently thrown from the second floor of an apartment complex in Nairobi's Lucky Summer Estate, where she resided with her mother. 

Authorities recovered a knife from Okoth’s apartment, believed to have been used to tamper with the door lock of the residence. Okoth, 35, along with his co-accused, Sylvia Aoko Odhiambo, were apprehended on April 22, 2024, and have been in custody ever since. Their requests for bail have been met with opposition from the prosecution. A ruling on the bail application is slated for July 13, with further hearings scheduled for September 17.

Before his arrest, Okoth, known for his talent, also had a career shadowed by disciplinary issues and media conflicts during his time with clubs such as Tusker FC, AFC Leopards, Sofapaka, and KCB. In recent years, Okoth had transitioned to match analysis before the present circumstances emerged. Okoth’s case is not an isolated incident. It highlights a concerning trend among Kenyan athletes who have encountered severe legal problems after their sports careers ended. 

The admiration and financial success that sports can bring do not always shield athletes from personal difficulties that can lead to criminal entanglements.

In May 2023, former Kenya Sevens rugby player Alex Olaba was sentenced to six years in prison for threatening to kill a witness in an ongoing rape trial. Olaba also received an additional two-year sentence for interfering with the judicial process. He was initially charged with gang rape along with fellow rugby player Frank Wanyama, a case that gained significant publicity in Kenyan sports circles. 

Although their original convictions were suspended pending an appeal over the admissibility of crucial testimony, Olaba’s subsequent actions led to further legal repercussions. Byron Billy Owuor, a former player for Kisumu All-Stars, was arrested in May 2024 for his involvement in a violent robbery and murder in Kisumu’s Kondele area. Investigations into the killing of a 23-year-old businesswoman led police to an AK-47 rifle, allegedly used in the crime, along with 36 rounds of ammunition. According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Owuor and his accomplices targeted M-Pesa operator Grace Awino Adero in January 2024. 

He has since been arraigned at the Winam Senior Principal Magistrate’s Court. Past cases also illustrate the enduring challenges faced by Kenyan athletes. In 2001, Tedium “Teddy” Rodgers, a former Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) midfielder, was convicted of robbery with violence and sentenced to death at age 23. Rodgers' promising career was cut short after he fell into a life of crime, influenced by peers outside of football. His sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment in 2009 by President Mwai Kibaki, who exercised his prerogative of mercy. 

Rodgers remained incarcerated until 2019, using his football skills to train fellow inmates at Kamiti Maximum Prison. Another high-profile case involved Nicodemus Arudhi, a former striker for Harambee Stars, Luo Union, and Gor Mahia. Arudhi’s legal name, Daniel Odhiambo, was little known, as he had adopted the moniker that became synonymous with his football career. His bullet-riddled body was found at Nairobi Funeral Home in June 1981. 

Prior to his death, Arudhi had been involved in serious criminal activities. After surrendering to police on June 21, 1981, officers claimed he attempted to flee while showing them a location where he had hidden firearms, which led to them shooting him. Renowned steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi also faced legal issues. In 2012, Kemboi was accused of assault for allegedly stabbing a woman named Ann Njeri Otieno in Eldoret after a night out. He denied the charges and was released on bail, but the case was later withdrawn.

Byron Robert Otieno, once a talented striker for Kariobangi Sharks, was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of robbery with violence in 2015. Moses Opula, a former AFC Leopards defender and coach, faced a similar fate to Teddy Rodgers. Opula was arrested in mid-2007 and sentenced to death for robbery, but his sentence was reduced to life imprisonment following the 2009 presidential decree. He was pardoned in 2020 after demonstrating good behavior. Many athletes struggle to transition into stable careers or overcome personal challenges, leading to situations that tarnish their reputations.