Kenya: Housemate Found Guilty of Edwin Chiloba Murder

Activists in Kenya have welcomed the guilty verdict in the trial of Jacktone Odhiambo, convicted of murdering LGBTIQ+ model, fashion designer, and activist Edwin Chiloba.

Chiloba’s body was discovered stuffed into a metal box on the side of a road near Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, on 3 January 2023. His brutal death drew global attention, with widespread speculation that it was a hate crime.

An autopsy confirmed that Chiloba died from asphyxiation. Socks had been forced into his mouth, and a strip of denim was tied around his mouth and nose.

Odhiambo, who lived with Chiloba and was reportedly in a relationship with him, was soon after arrested. The murder underscored the often overlooked phenomenon of intimate partner violence (IPV) in LGBTIQ+ relationships.

Activists highlighted that Kenya’s criminalisation of homosexuality makes it nearly impossible for sexual and gender minorities to report IPV, fearing arrest, self-incrimination, and further harm.

Guilty Verdict Delivered

On Wednesday, the Eldoret High Court delivered its judgment. Justice Reuben Nyakundi found Odhiambo guilty of the premeditated murder, aided by his brother and cousin.

Odhiambo denied involvement despite DNA evidence and eyewitness accounts of a confrontation between him and Chiloba. Witnesses also saw Odhiambo transporting the metal box containing Chiloba’s body.

“You strangled a young man who was at the peak of his life. You were close friends, and you should have protected his life,” said Justice Nyakundi, as reported by the BBC.

Activists Welcome the Ruling

The National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC) praised the verdict as a significant step towards justice for both Chiloba and the broader LGBTIQ+ community.

“This landmark ruling is a step towards justice for Edwin, but also for the LGBTIQ+ community at large,” said NGLHRC in a statement.

“After two years of working alongside the prosecution, supporting the interests of Edwin Chiloba’s family, loved ones, and our community, we are affirmed by the High Court’s decision,” the organisation added.

The court will announce Odhiambo’s sentence on 16 December. NGLHRC expressed hope for a strong penalty that will act as a deterrent, reinforcing that justice is a right for all Kenyans.

Same-sex intimacy is illegal in Kenya under colonial-era laws, with “carnal knowledge against the order of nature” and “gross indecency” punishable by up to 14 years in prison.