The death of Kenyan LGBT activist Edwin Kiprotich Kipruto also called Edwin Chiloba in 2022 was caused by his roommate Jacktone Odhiambo, a Kenyan court ruled on Thursday.
Judge Reuben Nyakundi in Eldoret said there is overwhelming evidence that photographer Odhiambo who lived with the gay activist in the same house was responsible for his murder.
The remains of Chiloba who was a university student in the town were discovered hidden in a metal box.
There were claims that he was killed because of his sexuality in a country like Kenya where homosexuality is illegal and offenders can be jailed for up to 14 years.
Judge Nyakundi said the court after examining evidence including DNA samples can rule that Chiloba was attacked by Jackton Odhiambo out of a profound dislike of 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 stopped short of stating any known motive for the murder.
“He was a young man whom you strangled until he lost his life at the peak of his life. You were close friends, and you should have protected his life,” said the judge.
The court did not make any finding about the motive for the killing.
Chiloba had died of suffocation after socks were stuffed into his mouth, according to the results of a post-mortem on his remains.
Odhiambo had denied that he had killed his victim which whom he had been in a sexual relationship.
Meanwhile the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission in a statement shortly after Odhiambo’s conviction described it as a landmark ruling for members of the gay community in ”Kenya, Africa and beyond”.
His sentencing has been scheduled for Monday 16 December, 2024.
WN/as/APA