Slain Rwandan athlete linked to 'love triangle' was to run in Italy

 

The late Rwandan athlete Rubayita Siragi. [Courtesy]

Even as police sought more time to hold Duncan Khamala, 27, the prime suspect in the latest murder of a Rwandese athlete in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, fresh details have emerged about the relationship between him and the suspect's alleged new girlfriend.

Rubayita Siragi, 34, was a long distance athlete training at the Asic training camp in Iten and has been in the country since 2017.

He succumbed to injuries after he was allegedly battered on Thursday last week by a fellow athlete in an ordeal the police have termed a ‘love triangle’.

Yesterday, Siragi's friends, who also hail from Rwanda and have been training with him, told The Standard that their friend was in a relationship with a 28-year-old woman, a Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) student Nelvin Imujaro Ajuma, whom the deceased and his alleged killer had fought over.

On the fateful day, Siragi is reported to have been beaten and left lying by the roadside.

His roommate Noel Hitimana said he had packed his belongings to leave the country the following morning for Kampala, Uganda, where he was to pick his visa.

Hitimana said Siragi's management had contacted him to travel to Italy for a marathon he was to participate in.

“He left the house, and I thought he was going to buy something from the shop. However, he failed to return, and I was worried how he would fail to spend the night at our house while he had to travel the next day," said Hitimana.

He recounted that on Friday evening, he was called by Khamala's friend, informing him that his roommate had been hospitalised at Iten County Referral Hospital after a fight with the gym instructor (Khamala).

"On reaching the hospital, we found Siragi's lifeless body lying at a hospital bed," said Hitimana.

Iyakaremye Erneste, a Rwandese, said when Siragi left the house after packing his stuff. He went to the shopping centre, where he bought some items to bid Ajuma goodbye as he was set to leave the country.

"Siragi had been dating Ajuma for more than two years. He had gone to bid her goodbye since he would be away for some time. We are shocked he met his death in such a manner. He was a humble and loving man," said Erneste.

The Rwandese said they knew Ajuma well and believed the couple would even get married. "Ajuma was last here three months ago. We trusted her, and often we would leave her with Siragi at this house. She had become family to us. She was one of us. If the two had indeed broken up as it has been said, Siragi would have told us so," his roommate said, adding that they knew the accused as a barber who often shaved them.

Byiringiro Fabrice, another friend to the deceased, claimed Siragi’s murder could have been pre-meditated.

“I feel the accused had been used by the lady (Ajuma) to hurt our friend and that the punishment went too far, leading to his death. I am only asking for thorough investigation to establish the truth,” Fabrice stated, on claims that the girl had a misunderstanding with their friend.

Keiyo North Sub county police commander Tom Makori said preliminary investigations indicated when the deceased arrived at Ajuma's house, Khamala was informed that the ex-boyfriend had visited her.

According to police, Ajuma and Siragi were ex-lovers, and Ajuma was pursuing a new relationship with Khamala.

Police records indicate that after the fight, Khamala left Siragi lying on the roadside and went to report an assault case against him.

“The police advised Khamala to seek treatment and a P3 form before returning to the station for investigations. However, he never returned, and we later received information that the foreigner was the victim of the fight and was at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and later had succumbed to his injuries,” the police commander stated.

On visiting the hospital, Makori said they noted that the deceased’s body had visible injury on the head and mouth and had bled on the left ear.

“The body has been preserved at Iten County Referral Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem. The suspect will be held for 14 more days as we conclude investigations and undergoes mental assessment. The woman, who is also under our custody, will record further statements before the detectives can treat her as a suspect or as a key witness,” said Makori.

Makori also said police records indicated Ajuma and Siragi, who had fallen apart, were in the process of reconciling but against the wishes of the accused, who is said to have been paying rent for Ajuma.

“The woman is a trained nurse on attachment. She has no income. It is therefore reported that after parting ways with the deceased in December last year and beginning a new relationship with the accused, the accused had begun paying her rent and this could have made the accused person angry,” said Makori.

A magistrate’s court yesterday granted DCI 14 days to conclude investigations as the suspect remain in custody.