A Kenyan court has found the housemate of LGBTQ activist Edwin Chiloba guilty of murder after the activist’s body was discovered in a metal box two years ago.
On Wednesday, a High Court judge in Eldoret ruled that Jacktone Odhiambo suffocated Chiloba and hid his body in a metal box, which was later dumped on the roadside. Odhiambo, who denied the charges, was found to have DNA evidence linking him to the victim, and witnesses testified to hearing a heated argument between the two and seeing Odhiambo moving the box.
The court did not determine the motive for the killing, though DNA evidence indicated that Odhiambo and Chiloba had an intimate relationship. Despite this, the killing was not considered a hate crime by the police, who arrested Odhiambo, Chiloba’s housemate in Eldoret.
Chiloba’s death in January 2023 garnered international attention, highlighting issues surrounding LGBTQ rights in Kenya, where same-sex relationships are illegal. At the time, Chiloba was known for his activism and fashion sense within the LGBTQ community.
Kenya remains a largely conservative society, with the president stating in the past that gay rights are not a priority for the country.