Kenyan Court Convicts Roommate in Murder of Gay Rights Activist Edwin Chiloba

Jackton Odhiambo has been convicted for the murder of Edwin Chiloba, whose death sparked significant outrage and highlighted challenges for LGBTQ rights in Kenya. Despite the conviction, the court did not establish a clear motive for the crime.

The high-profile murder case of Edwin Chiloba, a Kenyan gay rights activist, reached a decisive conclusion as his roommate Jackton Odhiambo was found guilty of the crime on Wednesday. This verdict emerged almost two years after the shocking discovery of Chiloba's body in a metal box by the roadside in Uasin Gishu County, igniting international condemnation and calls for improved protective measures for Kenya's LGBTQ community.

During the proceedings at the Eldoret High Court, Justice Reuben Nyambati Nyakundi indicated that Odhiambo, a 25-year-old freelance photographer and prior roommate of Chiloba, had intentionally planned the murder. The two were last observed together descending the stairs in their shared residence following a night out. Post the encounter, witnesses reported hearing distressing sounds from their apartment, which gradually ceased.

The court relied on DNA evidence to establish that Odhiambo had engaged in sexual relations with Chiloba prior to the tragic event. However, in his ruling, Justice Nyakundi expressed his inability to pinpoint a definitive motive for the murder, stating, "I went for an expedition, and I could not find what could have been the motive of causing the death of your dear friend.”

The case highlights the significant societal challenges faced by LGBTQ individuals in Kenya, where homophobia remains prevalent and where crimes against the community often go unpunished. The disturbing nature of Chiloba's murder served as a rallying point for advocates demanding better protections for LGBTQ rights amidst a legal and cultural environment that frequently marginalizes such communities.