A Kenyan court has sentenced a man to 50 years in prison for the murder of gay rights activist Edwin Kiptoo. Kiptoo, whose body was found in a metal box in the western city of Eldoret in January 2023, was a prominent figure in the LGBTQ+ community in Kenya.
His housemate, Jacktone Odhiambo, was found guilty of murder earlier this month.
“Yes, my client has been sentenced to 50 years’ imprisonment. At the moment I have not received any instructions to appeal,” Odhiambo’s lawyer, Sammy Mathai, told Reuters late on Monday.
Odhiambo had denied murdering Kiptoo when he was arraigned in court earlier this year.
Kiptoo’s murder sent shockwaves through the LGBTQ+ community in Kenya, where homosexuality remains a taboo subject.
While gay sex is punishable by 14 years in prison, the law is rarely enforced.
This case has highlighted the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Kenya and the ongoing struggle for their rights and safety.
This revised version provides slightly more context and emphasizes the impact of this case on the LGBTQ+ community in Kenya.