How Edwin Chiloba, an LGBTQ activist, died

Dr. Johansen Oduor, a senior authorities pathologist, testified in an Eldoret courtroom that LGBTQ activist Edwin Kiptoo, generally known as Chiloba, was murdered by being choked to demise. Talking just about earlier than Justice Reuben Nyakundi, Dr. Oduor acknowledged that Chiloba died from asphyxia attributable to three socks stuffed in his mouth and a pair of trousers tightly tied round his mouth and nostril.

The prime suspect within the homicide is Jackton Odhiambo, often known as Lizer, who was a pal of the deceased. Dr. Oduor described the homicide as brutal, noting that Chiloba, a 26-year-old College of Eldoret scholar on the time, suffered extreme accidents. Throughout the autopsy examination, Dr. Oduor noticed that Chiloba’s physique was decomposing and emitting a foul odor.

In accordance with Dr. Oduor, Chiloba had three socks deeply lodged in his mouth, and a denims trouser leg was tightly sure round his mouth and nostril. He additionally had bruises on the within of his higher and decrease lips and on the left aspect of his tongue. Dr. Oduor famous that there have been no indicators of defensive accidents on Chiloba’s physique.

Samples from the deceased have been collected for additional evaluation on the authorities laboratory to match with samples taken from the accused. Corporal Mercy Kathure, the Investigative Officer (IO) within the case, recounted receiving details about a metallic field dumped alongside Kipkenyo-Kaptinga street in Kapseret, Uasin Gishu County, on the morning of January 3, 2023.

Upon opening the field, the officers found Chiloba’s decomposing physique. The physique was transported to the Moi Educating and Referral Hospital (MTRH) mortuary, the place it was recognized as belonging to the LGBTQ activist Edwin Kiptoo. Jackton Odhiambo, who was final seen with the deceased at a membership in Eldoret and cohabited with him, was arrested because the prime suspect.

A taxi driver who rented out the automotive used to move the physique, in addition to two minors who assisted in loading the field into the automobile, have been additionally arrested however later launched after agreeing to testify as state witnesses. Odhiambo denied the allegations of killing Chiloba, with whom he allegedly had a romantic relationship, throughout an incident that occurred between December 31, 2022, and January 3, 2023, at Noble Breeze Residences in Chebisaas space, Moiben sub-county, Uasin Gishu County.