Kenya: Murdered Gay Activist's Family Says Son Was A Pastor

The family of slain LGBTQ activist Edwin Kiprotich Kiptoo alias Chiloba has come out to say their son was a pastor while asking Kenyans to stop spreading false information regarding him on social media.

Contrary to the stereotype of an immoral person being portrayed about him, Chiloba, according to his cousin Gaudencia Tanui, has loved God since he was a young adult.

"He was a boy with vision. A pastor. He was a church leader at Sergoit Primary School where he attended.

"At St Francis Kimuron, he was even nicknamed pastor because he was a child of the church," she said.

"Those things we are hearing spreading on social media, Kenyans please, stop spreading information you are not sure about and which is not humane.

"We are suffering as a family", she added. 

Chiloba's murder has so far led to the detention of five individuals, one of whom admitted to being his lover.

The fashionista's murderer, Jackton Odhiambo, admitted to the crime, saying the deceased cheated on him.

He claimed to have killed the male model in retaliation for betraying him, according to authorities in Eldoret.

Odhiambo, who was detained on Friday, disclosed that he lived with Chiloba as a spouse for a year.

However, Tanui denied Chiloba's alleged homosexuality.

"He was not. Those are things we are seeing on social media. He was a child of the church, he was baptised, and he was a leader in YCS in high school.

"In university, he was a student leader. I don't think anyone can elect someone who does those things," she said.

As the investigation into Chiloba's murder continues, a judge in Eldoret on Monday granted police permission to hold Odhiambo and four other suspects.

Among the suspects are three minors whom Odhiambo confessed to having executed the murder with.

On January 3, Chiloba was found slain in Hurlingham hamlet, on the outskirts of Eldoret, with his corpse packed into a metal box before being abandoned.

On Sunday, the police confiscated a vehicle they believe was used to transport and dispose of the corpse.

A postmortem was slated for Monday as the family prepares for burial at Sergoit village in Elgeyo Marakwet county on Saturday, January 14.

The family has asked for justice to be done and those responsible for Chiloba's murder jailed.

"He died painfully. Imagine having your eyes gouged out and yet our son was a very good child.

"He could not even harm a fly and did not deserve to be killed like an animal," Tanui said.