Boyfriend Found Guilty In Chilling Murder Of Kenyan Model And Activist
Kenyan fashion model and LGBTQIA+ activist Edwin Kiptoo, known to many as Chiloba, tragically lost his life in one of the most harrowing cases to shock the country in recent years.
ODPP has obtained another conviction after an Eldoret High Court convicted Jackton Odhiambo for the murder of LGBTQ activist Edwin Kiptoo, alias Chiloba.
— Office of The Director Of Public Prosecutions (@ODPP_KE) December 4, 2024
The prosecution, led by prosecution counsel Mark Mugun, presented evidence through the testimonies of 23 witnesses, detailing… pic.twitter.com/PvqhQwyVLO
Greg Owen reports on LGBTQ Nation, this week, a Kenyan court reached a verdict in the murder trial, convicting Chiloba’s boyfriend, Jacktone Odhiambo, for brutally taking his life. Chiloba, a 25-year-old university student with a passion for fashion and equality, was suffocated, and his body was found in a metal trunk left on a roadside.
The events took place between 31 December 2022 and 3 January 2023. Neighbours heard concerning sounds from the couple’s flat on New Year’s Day. The court heard from 23 witnesses who helped piece together the final moments of Kiptoo’s life.
🇰🇪A Kenyan court on Wednesday found the housemate of gay rights activist Edwin Kiptoo guilty of his murder, authorities said, nearly two years after the killing sent shockwaves through the LGBTQ community in the conservative East African nation.🧵 pic.twitter.com/WyYyXagzt9
— VOA Africa (@VOAAfrica) December 4, 2024
The forensic details are difficult to process. The medical expert confirmed Kiptoo died from suffocation. His hands showed defensive wounds, signs he tried to protect himself. After the killing, Odhiambo used Kiptoo’s phone for a shopping spree, visiting nightclubs, and paying for personal services.
Kiptoo studied Apparel Fashion and Design at the University of Eldoret. His last Instagram post spoke of his commitment to speak up for those who needed support. He saw himself as living proof that change was possible.
Ivy Werimba from galck+, a group of 16 rights organisations in Kenya, called the verdict, “Justice that took time to arrive.” She told news site DW this ruling shows progress in how Kenya’s institutions respond to such cases.
The judge’s words to Odhiambo were clear: “He was a young man whom you strangled until he lost his life at the peak of his life. You were close friends, and you should have protected his life.”
