FIDA Lawyers Ask Prosecutors to Review Allegations Against Former Kenyan Basketball Coach

Editor’s note: Some names have been changed to protect people who say they fear retaliation. Philip Onyango Ombajo and Joy Mupalia are named because their names are already in the public domain. Onyango has denied wrongdoing. Allegations described in this story remain disputed unless otherwise stated by court records or official findings.

A law firm representing several women has asked Kenyan prosecutors to consider a specialized investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against Philip Onyango Ombajo, a former Kenyan youth basketball coach.

The request came in mid-December 2021, months after Joy Mupalia accused Onyango of attempted rape following a July 3 encounter at a Nairobi hotel.

Onyango has denied wrongdoing.

The team of advocates, led by Eunice Lumallas, said prosecutors should review allegations that span several years and involve women from basketball, netball and media. Lumallas represents six alleged victims, according to information reviewed by The Africana Voice.

The lawyers said some women remain afraid to come forward because of threats and security concerns.

Alleged threat against the complainant

In their letter, the advocates said one complainant reported being threatened on Dec. 18, 2021.

“On December 18, 2021, one of the complainants said she was attacked and warned against proceeding with this matter,” the lawyers wrote.

The complainant, identified here as Elsa, said three men came to her home and warned her to stop cooperating in the case.

“Walibisha mlango nikafungua nikawauliza niwasaidiaje,” Elsa said. “Walivaa kofia wakaficha macho, jamaa mmoja akaniskuma ndani, wakakaa wakaniuliza if I know Philip Onyango, nikawaambia yes.”

Translation: “They knocked on my door. I opened it and asked how I could help them. They were wearing hats to cover their eyes. One of them pushed me inside the house and asked me if I knew Philip Onyango. I said yes.”

Elsa said the men told her they had heard she was one of the witnesses.

“Then wakaniambia eti we ndo wajua kutoa ushaidi,” she said. “Then wakaniambia niachane na hyo story or else I know what they might do next.”

Translation: “Then they told me they heard I was one of the witnesses. They told me to leave the case alone or else I know what they might do next.”

Elsa said the threat forced her to make costly changes for her safety.

The lawyers said they were working with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and other agencies to seek protection for complainants.

Onyango declined to comment for the story.

Background on Mupalia’s complaint

Mupalia accused Onyango of pressuring her for sex after inviting her to Nairobi with the promise of helping her join the Kenya Ports Authority women’s basketball team.

Mupalia said Onyango booked one hotel room for both of them. She said she objected and later accused him of attempted rape.

Onyango denied the accusation.

After the allegation became public, Onyango resigned from several basketball roles. In a July 7, 2021, letter, he said he was stepping aside from basketball activities as a Kenya Basketball Federation executive committee member, a national team technical bench member, a KPA technical bench member, and a Kaya Tiwi Secondary School coach.

“It has come to my attention that I have been accused of inappropriate behavior by one Joy Mohali,” Onyango wrote, apparently referring to Joy Mupalia. “These are serious allegation(s) that touch on my integrity as a coach, a technical official and as a parent.”

Nation Media Group ended its contributor arrangement with Onyango after the allegations. KPA also removed him from its women’s basketball technical bench.

“The Authority has a no-tolerance policy for sexual abuse, and it takes all allegations of misconduct seriously,” Daniel Ogutu, KPA general manager for human resources, wrote in a July 7, 2021, letter. “You’re hereby removed from being a member of the team’s technical bench with immediate effect for your inappropriate behavior and actions.”

Prosecutors later declined to pursue the attempted rape charge, citing insufficient evidence.

Lumallas said prosecutors should have considered sexual harassment as a possible charge. She argued that the hotel-room arrangement and Mupalia’s account raised questions about whether Onyango used his position of authority.

Any decision to bring charges rests with prosecutors.

National report expected

The allegations against Onyango became part of a wider discussion about the treatment of women in Kenyan sports.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed appointed a Committee on Gender Welfare in Sports after the allegations became public. The committee was chaired by Catherine Ndereba, one of Kenya’s most decorated athletes.

The committee was asked to examine women’s inclusion in teams and federation management, challenges facing women in sports and opportunities for reform. Its mandate also included reviewing the status of discrimination and abuse in the sports ecosystem.

The committee had been expected to report within 30 days. Six months later, its report had not yet been released.

Gerry Kweya, a committee member in charge of research, said the report would be released during a three-day conference beginning Jan. 16.

The Agnes Tirop Conference, named after the late Kenyan distance runner, was scheduled for Jan. 17 to Jan. 21 at Diani Reef Hotel in Kwale County.

Tirop, 25, was found dead in October 2021. Her husband, Ibrahim Kipkemboi Rotich, was later charged with murder.

The conference name placed the Onyango allegations within a broader national conversation about violence against women and the safety of female athletes.

Questions for KBF

The case also raised questions about the Kenya Basketball Federation’s policies for preventing and responding to sexual harassment.

KBF officials declined to comment for this story.

At the time, it was unclear whether KBF had a formal safeguarding policy, an independent complaint process, or rules governing coach-player boundaries during travel, housing, and recruitment.

Those questions remain central to the broader issue facing Kenyan basketball: how to protect women and girls when coaches control access to teams, schools, travel and playing opportunities.

What I would cut or move to a separate story

I would cut the entire financial corruption and blackmail section from this story unless you are ready to publish it as a separate investigation.

That includes:

“Some have suggested that some KBF officials are scared…”
“KBF financial reports show irregularities…”
“Onyango alluded to using accounting tricks…”
“The broadcasting rights contract worth Kshs 100,000,000…”
“The contract was canceled because KBF couldn’t account for the Kshs 20m.”

Those claims may be newsworthy, but they need a separate story with documents, named sources where possible, right of reply, and a clear connection to the safeguarding issue.