Kenyan court finds housemate of slain LGBTQ activist guilty of murder

A Kenyan court on Wednesday found the housemate of gay rights activist Edwin Kiptoo guilty of his murder, authorities said, nearly two years after the killing sent shockwaves through the LGBTQ community in the conservative East African nation.

The body of Kiptoo, popularly known as Chiloba, was found in a metal box in the western city of Eldoret in early January 2023. His housemate, Jacktone Odhiambo, who police believe had been in a relationship with him, was accused of carrying out the murder between the night of Dec. 31 and Jan. 3.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution confirmed the ruling in a posting on X.

"My client has been found guilty of murder," Sammy Mathai, Odhiambo's lawyer, told Reuters.

"We are going back to court on Dec. 16 for sentencing."

Eldoret High Court judge Reuben Nyakundi said the evidence presented against Odhiambo by the prosecution pointed to his guilt, the Star newspaper reported.

Odhiambo denied murdering Kiptoo, who was also a model and designer, when he was arraigned in early February 2023.

Homosexuality is taboo in Kenya and gay sex is punishable by 14 years in prison, although that law is rarely enforced.