The family of slain LGBTQ+ activist and model Edwin Chiloba has rubbished the aforementioned tag on their kin.
Speaking to Citizen TV on Monday, January 9, Chioba's sister Gladys Chemutai Kiptoo regretted her brother's brutal murder terming people spreading the gay chatter as his 'enemies.'
The sister recalled Chiloba's involvement in religious activities dating back to his primary school days to his secondary education as well.
"IIi mambo tunasikia social media hatujawahi ona. My case is, ni enemies wake wanajaribu kumharibia jina. (The ongoing social media chatter about his orientation is being spread by people aiming at tarnishing his name.)
"My brother was brought up in a Christian background. He was a church leader at Sergoit Primary School and also the YCS leader at St. Francis Kimuron Boys' High School. He has been nicknamed "pastor".
She noted that the Chiloba they knew at home was different from the person he is being painted.
"He came to Nairobi for university studies. So all these things we are hearing on social media, we have never suspected," she noted.
The family further noted that the postmortem would be conducted on Wednesday, January 11.
She lauded the government saying the family is on the path to justice.
"Edwin did not clash with anyone... Naambia brother yangu Rest in Peace.We loved you but the enemy destroyed you, but God will help us," she noted.
Chiloba's murder suspects detained
Meanwhile, a court in Eldoret on Monday granted a plea to prolong the detention of five suspects linked with the gruesome murder of Chiloba to allow police to conclude investigations into the incident.
The quintet including three minors will be detained for 21 more days.
Chiloba was found murdered and his body was stashed in a metallic box along the Kipenyo-Kaptinga road in Kapseret on Wednesday, January 4, 2023.
In an update, police indicate that Chiloba had his eyes gouged out and possibly died from strangulation.
“Apart from the eyes being gouged out, there were no physical injuries on the body, suggesting that the victim might have died out of choking,” Peter Kimulwa, Uasin Gishu County Directorate of Criminal Investigations officer, said.
Police and the family await post-mortem results to establish the actual cause of Chiloba's death on New Year’s Eve.
24-year-old Nairobi -based freelance photographer Jackton Odhiambo confessed to killing his lover Chiloba shortly after he was arrested. He is being held at Langas police station in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.
Odhiambo confessed to the police that he was driven to commit the murder after finding out that Chiloba had another partner.
