LGBTQ activist Edwin Chiloba was embroiled in a love triangle, police say
Police in Eldoret, Kenya have made a major breakthrough in the investigation into the brutal murder of LGBTQ activist and model Edwin Chiloba.
On Friday evening, officers arrested Jackton Odhiambo, who is a close friend of the victim and his roommate.
Although it is not clear whether Odhiambo has confessed to committing the crime, police say it is believed to have been motivated by a love triangle.
According to Langas Police OCPD John Odhiambo who was speaking to a local media house, “He (Odhiambo) and his two friends were responsible for the murder of Chiloba. They were a couple and were residing together. It was a betrayal by one of them”
The two other suspects believed to be involved in the murder are still at large and a manhunt is underway to bring them to justice.
Chiloba’s decomposing body had its eyes gouged out with no other physical injuries.
The was also strong smell emanating from the room where the two lived.
Alex Nyamweya, the apartment caretaker, described Chiloba as “not a combative or agressive person; instead, he had respect for others.”
Nyamweya revealed that Odhiambo had left the apartment on January 4, taking all of his belongings and thoroughly cleaning the house. The suspect is said to have called Nyamweya using Chiloba’s phone to inform him of his departure.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has strongly condemned the murder, stating that it is deeply concerned about the ongoing trend of unsolved murders of sexual rights advocates in the country.
The commission has called on the National Police Service to step up efforts to ensure the safety of all Kenyans.
In a statement, the commission reminded the public that the Kenyan constitution guarantees the right to life, dignity, and freedom of expression for all citizens, regardless of gender, sex, or any other status.