Former Harambee Stars striker Taiwo Atieno is facing eight charges relating to allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend Keisha Buchanan, across an approximately 13-year period.The 39-year-old on Thursday 5 June appeared in a Harrow Crown Court case (sitting at Southwark), where he was charged with assaulting singer Buchanan, one of the original members of the Sugababes with Mutya Buena and Siobhán Donaghy in 1998.Follow Our WhatsApp Channel For More NewsAs per Sky News, Atieno, who represented the Kenya national football team between 2009 and 2012, before retiring from football in 2013, appeared via video link from HMP Wormwood Scrubs wearing a suit and tie.Atieno, according to the publication, was charged with assaulting Ms.Buchanan between 1 January 2012 and 1 January 2015 – causing her actual bodily harm.He was also charged with controlling or coercive behaviour against the 40-year-old between 29 December 2015 and 1 May 2018.Taiwo Atieno urges Tottenham Hotspur fullback to play for Harambee Stars“The charge alleges he opened Ms Buchanan’s correspondences, controlled her finances and when she could go to the gym and shower, and would not let her wear red lipstick,” Sky News reported on Thursday 5 June.Atieno, who between 2010-2011 played for English side Luton Town, was also charged with six counts of breaching a non-molestation order, twice by allegedly posting information about Ms Buchanan to a third party online on 18 July and 20 July 2024.Further, he is being accused of breaching the order by emailing Ms Buchanan on 2 August, 19 November, 19 December and 23 December 2024.##NAJAVA_MECA_8968313##Atieno, the former Commercial Director of Kenyan Premier League Ltd, was granted conditional bail, and was told by the judge that “he must not contact Ms Buchanan, must not enter the district of Barnet and must surrender his passport.”Julian Malins KC, defending, said Atieno “fully understands” the terms of his release and “assures the court through us that he will abide by that.”In recent years, Atieno has been active in Kenya. Last year, he had declared his intention to vie for the FKF presidency before pulling out in the later stages of the campaign.Atieno is now due to enter pleas on 22 August, with his trial set to begin on 13 April 2026.Efforts to reach Atieno for a comment proved futile.Kenyans disappointed after Chad frustrates McCarthy’s bid for maiden Harambee stars win
