The primary suspect in the death of fashionsita Edwin Chiloba, Jackton Odhiambo, has confessed to killing the model over claims that he cheated on him.
According to Langas OCPD John Odhiambo, Jackton carried out the murder with the assistance of two associates who remain at large.
The suspect claims he murdered Chiloba in retaliation for betraying him in their relationship.
Odhiambo, who had been living with the dead in Eldoret for a year, was detained yesterday as the prime suspect in the murder.
They used to be married and lived together as a couple.
Alex Nyamwea, Chiloba’s caretaker, claims that on January 4th, Jackton Odhiambo called him on Chiloba’s phone to inform him that he was leaving the residence they shared.
And, true to his word, Odhiambo left the house right away.
Murder of Eldoret model:
Police arrest suspect linked to Chiloba’s murder. Jackton Odhiambo ‘confessed killing Chiloba’.
Detectives hunt for Odhiambo’s accomplices. Chiloba was murdered & body put in a metal box.
Police are pursuing the angle of a love triangle #CitizenWeekend pic.twitter.com/zWkVGAxF7d
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) January 7, 2023
metallic box
Chiloba’s body was discovered stuffed in a metallic box in Kipkenyo, Eldoret, on Wednesday afternoon.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing unknown assailants drop off the metallic box by the roadside before speeding off.
The family of the deceased, still reeling in shock at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital morgue, wants justice for their kin as human rights activists continue to condemn the murder.
His sister Melvin Faith said: “Hao watu wajitokeze at least tujue chenye ilifanyika mpaka wakamuua kwa kifo ambayo hatukutarajia. Ata angemuua tu mahali tuende tumuokote kuliko amuue amweke kwa sanduku.”
“Kitendo alichofanyiwa ni kibaya sana; aliwekewa socks kwa mdomo, macho imeng’olewa…kweli amenfanyiwa kiunyama mbaya sana,” added Matthew Kiprono, a close relative.
Chiloba’ sister recounts their last moments together, at an entertainment joint in Eldoret town on New Year’s Eve; the reunion was however short-lived.
“On 31st I was with him, alikuja huku kuvuka mwaka and that’s when we met with him tukavuka mwaka vizuri, and then baadaye he wished me bye. From hiyo siku sikumpigia simu tena, he was the one to call me but unfortunately sikuona call yake,” she said.
It is along the Kipkenyo – Katinga road where residents made a distress call on Wednesday afternoon after unknown assailants dumped a metallic box and sped off.
Autopsy
Preliminary investigations revealed that Chiloba’s eye was gouged out and he had other injuries. An autopsy was conducted on the body on Friday.
“Mauwaji haya yametuweka chini sana kama familia kwa sababu Edwin alikuwa kijana wetu wa kipekee ambaye tulikuwa tunamtegemea na alikuwa anaonyesha kwamba ako na bright future. Mwenye alifanya kitendo hicho amfichue na alipishe kisasi, serikali wafuatilie kwa sababu Edwin alikuwa mtu wa watu,” said Gladys Kiptoo, another sister to the deceased.
Chiloba, a 4th-year student at the University of Eldoret, had a promising future; he had carved a niche for himself as a model and fashion designer.
His death has sparked public outcry, with human rights organisations condemning the incident and calling for speedy investigations.
“We’re shocked and very concerned by the brutal murder of Edwin Chiloba. The information that is coming through, and of course it is still very early, is that he was murdered potentially as a result of his sexual orientation,” said Amnesty International Director Irungu Houghton.
