Runner Rwanda murdered because of love triangle

Rubayita, 34, was killed on August 22 in Iten, where he trained to prepare for a marathon in Italy.

According to Rubayita's family, the runner was killed when a Keynanese colleague and his girlfriend invited Rubayita to their home the night before leaving for Italy to compete.

Nasra Bishumba, Rubayita's sister, told the BBC that her brother was expected to return home to Kigali on August 25 before leaving for Italy as scheduled. Rubayita's coaches at Iten went looking for her brother when a roommate reported that the runner had gone out and never returned.

Police investigating the case said that Rubayita was murdered because of a conflict in a love triangle involving a female student at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC). The main suspect Duncan Khamala - a 27-year-old male runner from Kenya - is said to have killed Rubayita out of jealousy.

According to the initial investigation, Rubayita and the female student KTMC broke up last year. By December 2022, she started a relationship with Khamala, but then had an affair with Rubayita. The police suspected that Khamala was planning to take action with his love rival when he learned that female students KMTC and Rubayita resumed their relationship.

However, two of Rubayita's roommates denied that the Rwandan runner broke up with his girlfriend and she started another relationship. Another friend revealed that Rubayita and the KMCT student are thinking of getting married after more than two years of dating.

Rubayita's body was found along a road in Iten. "We saw his body. Rubayita was beaten and blood came out of his left and right ear," a friend said. Police have completed an autopsy and Rubayita's body has been returned to Rwanda for a funeral.

Rubayita has represented Rwanda in many international tournaments in Africa and Europe. He finished 13th at the International Peace Marathon Kigali 2023 in June.