Killer Of LGBTQ Activist Edwin Chiloba Sentenced To 50 Years In Prison
Jacktone Odhiambo, a freelance photographer who was found guilty last week of murdering LGBTQ activist Edwin Chiloba, was sentenced to 50 years in jail on Monday, December 16.
Justice Reuben Nyakundi, who delivered the ruling at the Eldoret High Court, categorized the case as aggravated homicide, noting that it was a premeditated, planned, and brutally executed murder.
He stated that the accused had shown no honest or genuine regret after the incident and warranted the death punishment, which is not enforced in Kenya.
“I have looked at the matter and weighed all balances the middle ground between the death penalty and life imprisonment is that you serve 50 years in jail for this offense,” said Justice Nyakundi.
Jacktone Odhiambo gets 50-year sentence for murdering LGBTQ activist Edwin Kipruto, alias Chiloba pic.twitter.com/UIjSIpPftj
— Nation Africa (@NationAfrica) December 16, 2024
Chiloba was discovered dead on January 4, 2023, in a metal trunk along a footpath in Eldoret. An autopsy report later confirmed his death from asphyxiation.
Led by Mark Mugun, the prosecution presented evidence from 23 witnesses, including DNA profiles linking the suspect to the crime.
When the murder was discovered in 2023, Odhiambo was quickly identified as the main suspect and arrested along with four others.
Jackton Odhiambo, charged with the murder of LGBTQ activist Edwin Kiptoo, popularly known as Chiloba, has been sentenced to 50 years imprisonment by an Eldoret High Court.
— Office of The Director Of Public Prosecutions (@ODPP_KE) December 16, 2024
The court found Odhiambo guilty of killing Kiptoo in an incident that occurred between December 31, 2022,… pic.twitter.com/KuaQkl3tbE
Witnesses reported seeing him in possession of the trunk in which Chiloba was discovered, and DNA tests produced during the trial verified this claim.
Key evidence included DNA retrieved from Chiloba’s body and personal belongings, which revealed a mix of Odhiambo’s and the victim’s blood, establishing his involvement in the case.
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The activist’s murder in 2023 garnered great attention both locally and globally, with various activists and organizations labeling it a hate crime against LGBTQ people.
Countries such as the United States have even offered to help with the investigation.
In the end, this proved unneeded because the case and trial were completed less than two years after the crime occurred, which is nearly a record in Kenya’s court system.
Kenya’s constitution still criminalizes same-sex relationships and marriages, which undoubtedly contributed to the controversy surrounding the case.
Killer Of LGBTQ Activist Edwin Chiloba Sentenced To 50 Years In Prison
