Kenyan Photographer Sentenced to 50 Years for Murder of LGBTQ+ Activist Edwin Chiloba

Jacktone Odhiambo has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the murder of his housemate, Edwin Chiloba, an LGBTQ+ activist. The shocking killing has raised concerns about safety and rights for the LGBTQ+ community in Kenya.

Kenyan photographer Jacktone Odhiambo has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the murder of his housemate, Edwin Kiprotich Kipruto, known as Edwin Chiloba, highlighting a distressing chapter in the country's treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals. Judge Reuben Nyakundi delivered the ruling, citing the "diabolical manner" of the January 2023 killing, which shook the LGBTQ+ community in Kenya.

Chiloba, a 25-year-old fashion designer and activist, was discovered smothered to death. His remains were found in a metal box on the roadside in Eldoret, fueling outrage and international attention on the issue of violence against LGBTQ+ individuals in the region. Judge Nyakundi noted that Odhiambo, 25, displayed a lack of remorse, leading to a harsher sentence.

Following the verdict, Odhiambo dramatically fell to the floor, weeping in the courtroom. The evidence against him was damning, with 23 witnesses testifying and DNA tests linking him directly to the crime scene. The prosecution, led by Mark Mugun, also revealed that Odhiambo had siphoned money from Chiloba's accounts after committing the heinous act.

Particularly troubling details emerged about the murder; a post-mortem confirmed that Chiloba had died from asphyxiation due to smothering, with socks stuffed in his mouth and denim tied around his face. Moreover, evidence suggested that Odhiambo had also sexually assaulted Chiloba before the murder, although the court did not confirm if their relationship played a role in the motive for the crime.

As concerns continue to mount about LGBTQ+ rights in Kenya, the case serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by the community, amid looming discussions about potential anti-gay legislation.