Home
The United States Department has stated that they’re willing to help Kenyan investigators get to the bottom of the gruesome murder of LGBTQ activist Edwin Chiloba in Eldoret last week. So far five suspects including two minors and Jackton Odhiambo, Chiloba’s alleged lover have been taken to custody.
Addressing the media, Mr Ned Price the US State Department said that the Biden-led administration was shocked and saddened by the demise of the activist and said such vices were unacceptable.
“Violence against LGBTQI+ persons or anyone, of course, is unacceptable. But when violence stems from possible bias or stigma, it indirectly harms all members of the targeted community,” Ned Price said.
“Ultimately the ultimate act of intolerance has no place in free and open societies. We made the point last week that we urge and expect the Kenyans to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into his death. And of course, if there’s anything we can do to assist, we stand ready to do that,” he said.
“We’ve sent our condolences to his family, to his loved ones, but also to the LGBTQI+ community in Kenya during their time of mourning. There were so many in that community in Kenya who benefited from his leadership, from his visibility, from his support,” said Mr Price.
All this happened when the family of the late activist denied claims that Edwin Kiptoo Chiloba was gay. They said that he was very astute in his Christian faith particularly when he was in high school.
“We are perturbed with what we are seeing on social media that our son was involved in ungodly practices. What we know is that he was a servant of God and even locals in our village knew him as a pastor,” said Ms Gaudencia Tanui his cousin.
Chiloba’s cause of death was strangulation according to the Uasin Gishu Department of Criminal Investigations. Additionally his eyes were gouged out and his lifeless body was stuffed in a metal box which was abandoned in Eldoret by an unknown car.
