Two High School Students Arrested in LGBTQ Activist Edwin Chiloba’s Murder Probe.
On Sunday, January 8, two high school students were apprehended in connection with the death of LGBTQ activist Edwin Chiloba.
Resila Atieno, a spokesperson for the police, confirmed that the two students, flanked by a 19-year-old, assisted the lead suspect, Jackton Omondi, in transferring the metal box to the location of the vehicle.
The car used to transport the box, a Toyota Fielder, was also arrested. Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Eldoret South apprehended the three suspects.
“Police officers from DCI Eldoret South have today arrested the suspects: a schoolboy aged 17-year-old, a 19-year-old man, and another male high school student. In the child’s best interest, their names and the names of schools are omitted here.
"The three assisted the main suspect Jacktone Omondi in carrying the box moving it from the scene to the vehicle make Toyota Fielder. The vehicle is detained and suspects are in police custody,” Atieno stated.
According to preliminary assessments, the victim’s eyes were gouged and he died from strangling. The crime was treated as a suspected love triangle turned lethal, according to Peter Kimulwa, an Uasin Gishu County Directorate of Criminal Investigations investigator.
Apart from the gouged out eyeballs, there were no physical lesions on the body, implying that the man died from choking.
Odhiambo allegedly confessed to the crime after realizing Chiloba was having an affair with another partner.
Chiloba and his companion got embroiled in a fight at their shared flat in Eldoret, according to neighbors. The victim’s body was later discovered in a metal box containing women’s clothing.
Last Text Message Before His Death
Furthermore, Alex Nyamwea, the custodian of the buildings where the two lived, confirmed that Odhiambo continued to use the victim’s phone number.
“He called using Chiloba’s number and heard his friend’s voice. I used to believe the two were brothers. They have lived together for over a year,” Nyamwea noted.
Melvin Faith, the elder sister of killed LGBTQ activist Edwin Chiloba, detailed the last discussion she had with her brother just hours before his death.
Faith mentioned that Chiloba delivered a mysterious message, which was thought to be his parting message, while retelling the events.
Chiloba, she said, had come at a local club in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, on December 31, 2022, to ring in the New Year.
However, the activist departed the club hours later with a friend who was unknown to the sister.
“I chatted with him for about 20 minutes before bidding him goodbye and he left with a friend, whom I did not know.
"All I can remember is that he told me, bye sis, we shall meet again. I will be missing you,” a teary-eyed Faith stated.
She was perplexed as to why Chiloba, who had high hopes for the new year, died so suddenly.
In an effort to solve the crime and apprehend the perpetrators, the family urged the government to speed up investigations.
"He told me this (2023) will be his best year yet. I did not know he would be killed. I want the government to quickly investigate this. He was a boy with dreams. He used to encourage us all,” she noted.
Furthermore, preliminary assessments showed that Chiloba died as a result of strangling. According to Peter Kimulwa, an Uasin Gishu County Directorate of Criminal Investigations investigator, the victim’s eyes were also gouged out, demonstrating the heinous nature of the act.
The primary suspect, Jackton Odhiambo, who shared the victim’s flat, confessed to conspiring with two other suspects to perpetrate the crime.
Two High School Students Arrested in LGBTQ Activist Edwin Chiloba’s Murder Probe.
