Kenyan Man Sentenced To 50 Years For Murder Of LGBTQ+ Activist Edwin Chiloba

A Kenyan court on Monday sentenced Jacktone Odhiambo to 50 years in prison for the murder of LGBTQ+ activist Edwin Chiloba, whose mutilated body was found in a metal box in January 2023.

The High Court in Eldoret found Odhiambo guilty of killing Chiloba, a prominent advocate against LGBTQ+ discrimination in Kenya. The case drew international attention to the country’s conservative stance on gay rights, where same-sex relationships remain criminalized.

Justice Reuben Nyakundi ruled that Odhiambo had planned the murder, attacking Chiloba after they returned home from a nightclub. Evidence showed Chiloba had tried to defend himself, as indicated by marks on his hands. Witnesses testified about hearing an argument between the two housemates and later seeing Odhiambo move the metal box where Chiloba’s body was found.

DNA evidence revealed the two men had an intimate relationship, though the court did not establish a motive for the killing. Odhiambo denied the charges but could not explain how his DNA was found on the victim’s body. He has the right to appeal the verdict.

Despite fears from LGBTQ+ activists, police ruled out the possibility of a hate crime. However, Chiloba’s murder highlights the ongoing discrimination and violence faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Kenya, where advocacy for their rights remains a sensitive and often dangerous endeavor.