Jacktone Odhiambo, convicted of the gruesome murder of LGBTQ activist Edwin Chiloba, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison.
The Eldoret High Court handed the sentence, with Justice Reuben Nyakundi condemning the act as premeditated and carried out with extreme malice.
In his ruling, Justice Nyakundi described the crime as deeply calculated, highlighting the deliberate intent and cruelty involved. He noted that under normal circumstances, such a heinous act would warrant the death penalty. However, due to Kenya's constitutional abolition of capital punishment, a 50-year sentence was imposed instead.
The court also acknowledged the devastating emotional toll the crime had on Chiloba’s family. As the only son, his murder not only caused immense grief but also marked the end of the family’s legacy.
Did you read this?
Evidence presented in court revealed that Chiloba had been sexually assaulted before being killed. A post-mortem examination confirmed he was suffocated, with a piece of denim tied around his mouth and nose and socks stuffed inside his mouth. His body was later found dumped by the roadside, approximately 40 kilometers from Eldoret.
Chiloba, 25, was a well-known model and fashion designer whose death sent shockwaves through Kenya’s LGBTQ community.
Homosexuality remains highly stigmatized in the country, where societal attitudes and conservative Christian beliefs often lead to discrimination, harassment, and violence against LGBTQ individuals.
While there have been efforts to repeal British colonial-era laws criminalizing same-sex relationships, homosexuality remains illegal in Kenya, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
