In a dramatic development, Jacktone Odhiambo, the housemate of Kenyan model, designer, and LGBTQ rights advocate Edwin Chiloba, has denied the charge of murder. Chiloba’s body was found in a metal box last month, causing shock and sadness throughout the LGBTQ community in Kenya.
Odhiambo, who was believed to have been in a relationship with Chiloba, is accused of killing him between the night of Dec. 31 and Jan. 3. The cause of Chiloba’s death was suffocation due to socks stuffed into his mouth, according to a pathologist’s report.
The not guilty plea from Odhiambo adds another layer of complexity to this already devastating case. The LGBTQ community in Kenya faces significant challenges, as homosexuality is still considered taboo and same-sex relations carry a 14-year prison sentence.
The trial and outcome of this case will likely have significant implications for the LGBTQ community in Kenya, and for the ongoing struggle for equality and acceptance.
