The death of Kenyan LGBT activist Edwin Kiprotich Kipruto, also known as Edwin Chiloba in 2022, was caused by his roommate Jacktone Odhiambo, a Kenyan court ruled on Thursday.
Justice Reuben Nyakundi of Eldoret said there is overwhelming evidence that photographer Odhiambo who lived with gay activist Edwin Chiloba, in the same house, was responsible for his murder.
The remains of Chiloba, who was a student at the city’s university, were discovered hidden in a metal box.
It was claimed he was killed because of his sexual orientation in a country like Kenya where homosexuality is illegal and offenders can be jailed for up to 14 years.
Justice Nyakundi said the court, after considering the evidence, including DNA samples, could decide that Chiloba was attacked by Jackton Odhiambo because of a deep dislike for the victim who was strangled to death by the accused.
The judge agreed with the prosecution that Odhiambo’s attack on his roommate was a deliberate attempt to physically eliminate him.
However, the judge did not specify a known motive for the killing.
“He was a young man who you strangled until he lost his life. You were close friends and should have protected his life,” the judge said.
The court did not make any conclusions about the motive for the murder.
Chiloba died of suffocation after socks were stuffed into his mouth, according to the results of an autopsy of his remains.
Odhiambo had denied killing his victim with whom he had a sexual relationship.
Meanwhile, the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, in a statement released shortly after Odhiambo’s conviction, described the decision as a historic decision for members of the gay community in “Kenya, in Africa and beyond.
His sentencing is scheduled for Monday, December 16, 2024.
WN/as/fss/Sf/te/APA
