Man jailed for murder of Kenyan LGBTQ+ activist Edwin Chiloba

Jacktone Odhiambo sentenced to 50 years in prison over killing of housemate in city of Eldoret

The housemate of an LGBTQ+ activist in Kenya has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the murder of Edwin Chiloba, whose mutilated body was discovered in a metal box almost two years ago.

The high court in Eldoret found Jacktone Odhiambo guilty over the January 2023 killing that drew global attention to attitudes toward gay rights in the largely conservative Kenya, where the president, William Ruto, has called gay rights a non-issue, and sex between men is illegal.

Chiloba was widely known in Kenya’s LGBTQ+ community for his activism against discrimination.

Odhiambo denied killing his housemate, despite samples of his DNA being found on the victim’s body. He can appeal against the sentencing. DNA evidence indicated the two men had an intimate physical relationship, but the court gave no finding on the motive for the killing.

During the trial, witnesses testified to hearing the housemates in an argument and later seeing Odhiambo move the metal box.

Justice Reuben Nyakundi said during the ruling that Odhiambo had planned the murder, waiting until the two returned home from a nightclub. Chiloba had marks on his hands, showing that he had tried to fight back, Nyakundi said.

LGBTQ+ people have decried discrimination and attacks in Kenya, but police ruled out the possibility that the killing was a hate crime.

This story originally appeared on The Guardian.