A foreign athlete named Zane Robertson, who was arrested last week in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, with an AK47 rifle, has been granted release on a two-million-shilling bond or a surety of the same amount.

Robertson was apprehended on September 20, 2023, as part of a sexual assault investigation, during which the police discovered the unlicensed assault rifle and 23 rounds of ammunition.

The New Zealand national has been set free by the Iten court after pleading not guilty to the charges before Senior Magistrate Emily Kigen.

As part of his release conditions, the court has instructed the 34-year-old athlete to deposit all his travel documents, including his passport, with the court, and he is prohibited from traveling unless granted permission by the court.

His case has been scheduled for mention on October 20, 2023, with a hearing date set for October 25, 2023.

It’s worth noting that the athlete is currently serving an 8-year ban for anti-doping violations. He was handed the ban in March 2023.

Zane Robertson accused of sexual assault

His arrest stemmed from a report by a woman who accused the athlete of sexual assault.

Police subsequently visited his residence to bring him in for questioning regarding the allegations, but the suspect refused to cooperate and refused to open the doors.

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Once they gained entry, they uncovered that he had a firearm in his possession. The athlete has been residing in Kenya for an extended period and has even constructed a residence for himself.

Athletics Kenya broke silence on the matter, calling for stern action against foreigners coming into the country with a hidden agenda.

Jack Tuwei, president of Athletics Kenya, stated that relevant authorities should follow up on the activities of foreign sportsmen and women.