The murder trial of Edwin Kiprotich, known as Chiloba, has reached a significant milestone. The defense has officially closed its case, paving the way for the final judgment scheduled for November 8, 2024.
Chiloba, a prominent LGBTQ activist and final-year student at the University of Eldoret, was tragically killed between December 31, 2022, and January 3, 2023.
The prime suspect, 25-year-old freelance photographer Jacktone Odhiambo, and who was Edwin Chiloba’s lover, has consistently denied the charges against him.
Odhiambo is accused of murdering Chiloba at Noble Breeze Apartment in Uasin Gishu County, where they both lived.
Chiloba’s mutilated body was discovered in a metallic box on January 3, 2023, along the Kipkenyo-Kaptinga road, roughly 10 kilometers from Eldoret town.
According to the caretaker of the building where the two stayed, Jackton Odhiambo was allegedly seen carrying the same big metallic box in which Chiloba’s body was discovered packed in women’s clothes.
And neighbors also claimed to have seen Jackton carrying the box down the stairs.
After discovering the box, the caretaker contacted the police and provided a statement about what he had witnessed. He mentioned that he met with Chiloba’s friends at the police station, where they confirmed that the box taken down at night was the same one they saw in the house.
The caretaker also noted a strong odor coming from Chiloba’s apartment. When he inquired about the smell, Jackton attributed it to a rat that had died under a seat, claiming it had been removed but the smell remained.
The caretaker had already received complaints about the foul odor from one of the neighbors and had promised to investigate.
This shocking discovery drew widespread attention and concern both locally and globally.
During the year-long trial in Eldoret’s High Court, the prosecution presented 22 key witnesses, including government pathologist Johansen Oduor.
Edwin Chiloba Cause of Death
Odour disclosed said Chiloba died of suffocation. And that his mouth and nose had been covered using a cloth. His mouth was also blocked using three pairs of socks and his brain was swollen.
Notably, forensic evidence revealed a DNA match between seminal fluids found on a bed cover that tied the deceased and the suspect, Odhiambo.
Toxicology tests conducted on Chiloba’s body showed no chemical substances, according to Government Analyst Jane Waya.
As the trial concludes, Justice Nyakundi has ordered both the prosecution and the victim’s lawyer to submit their final arguments within two weeks. The upcoming judgment will be crucial for all parties involved and the broader community.