Kenyan LGBTQ Activist Found Dead in Metal Box
Kenya police are investigating the gruesome killing of LGBTQ activist and fashion designer Edwin Chiloba. According to Huffington Post, his body was found stuffed inside a metal box on the side of the road. Human rights advocates mourned his death and accosted Kenya for fostering a hostile environment for queer people.
The report says a motorcycle taxi operator observed someone in a car with no license dump a box. The taxi driver alerted the police and the officers opened the box to find Chiloba’s lifeless body folded inside. Graphic videos of the stomach-churning moment have circulated Twitter. His body was taken to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital to establish his cause of death, which has not yet been revealed. Other videos of what appeared to be Chiloba’s last moments showed him at a club with a few friends.
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One of them, Jacktone Odhiambo, was named a prime suspect in the murder and arrested, according to Kenyan newspapers. Reports say he was Chiloba’s roommate and best friend. Pictures of the two are scattered across Chiloba’s Instagram page.
Unfortunately, this was the fatal end to a number of attacks Chiloba experienced for his activism and proud display of his sexual identity. According to a report from Citizen Digital, last year Chiloba was attacked by a group of unknown assailants leaving him with serious injuries.
Supporters took to Twitter to honor the memory of Chiloba and condemn the ongoing violence against LGBT people in Kenya.
“This is a frightening crime but it’s becoming common in Kenya - evidence of a growing epidemic of violence in the country,” read a tweet from the Kenya Human Rights Commission. “The [government] must reinforce legal protections against non-discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity #JusticeForEdwinChiloba.”
On Tuesday, the body of Edwin Chiloba was found in Kapseret, Uasin Gishu county after he was brutally killed & dumped in the area by unknown assailants.
It is truly worrisome that we continue to witness escalation in violence targeting LGBTQ+ Kenyans.#JusticeForEdwinChiloba pic.twitter.com/CZLuD5Khb8— KHRC (@thekhrc) January 6, 2023
#EdwinChiloba from Kenya was murdered.
Murdered for being who they are, for being different. Murdered for living their truth & for loving who they wanna love.
Enough of hate, discrimination,homophobia, transphobia & genocide against sexual & gender minorities#EnoughIsEnough! pic.twitter.com/oMXIPbi8XE— Solome Nakaweesi (She/Her)ᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠ (@SonaKimb) January 6, 2023
Please stop sharing the pictures of Edwin Kiprotich Chiloba's lifeless body next to the metal box his body had been stuffed in. Remember him for the iconic fashion designer & fun loving person he was. pic.twitter.com/s4ciMTqd5Q
— Sina Source (@ChichiKoech) January 6, 2023
The killing and violence against Edwin Chiloba is prejudice and hate!
We will only prevent these crimes if our government and all Kenyans are brave enough to address that all Humans are equal irrespective of their gender identity &sexual orientation.#Justiceforchiloba pic.twitter.com/n8hXVUBiEO— Nadharia Kenya (@and_aak) January 6, 2023
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