“Your energy introduces you before you even speak. Be unapologetically YOU. And know that is ENOUGH.” – Edwin Chiloba
A rising Kenyan fashion designer, stylist, model, and LGBTQ+ activist, Edwin Chiloba was best known for his striking personal style and vibrant presence on social media. But beyond just his creativity and flair, he also stood as a bold and visible figure in a country where LGBTQ+ identities largely remain criminalized. From his rural upbringing to his growing national prominence, Chiloba used fashion not just as a form of self-expression, but also as a tool of resistance—challenging societal expectations and asserting the right for queer Kenyans to live freely and authentically. Through his extravagant designs and eye-catching personal image, Chiloba made powerful statements about beauty, worth, and queer survival. His public presence radiated both confidence and joy, even as it deeply defied entrenched norms around gender and identity in his home country. At a time when he was just beginning to build a career and make a name for himself across Kenya, Chiloba’s life was tragically cut short under devastating circumstances. But today, Chiloba’s legacy endures as a symbol of both the possibility and the danger of living openly and unapologetically queer in Kenya.
Widely known and referred to as Edwin Chiloba, Edwin Kiprotich Kiptoo was born on February 6th, 1997, in the village of Sergoit, Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya. He adopted the Chiloba name after being repeatedly told he resembled the Kenyan Communication Authority executive, Ezra Chiloba. Edwin’s early years in Sergoit were marked by hardship; he lost his mother at a young age and was then orphaned as a teenager after the death of his father. Many of his formative years were thus spent moving around and living with various relatives. Despite these challenges—or perhaps because of them—he turned to his strong Catholic faith for early guidance, joining the Young Christian Students at Sergoit Primary School. Jesca Kiprop, a childhood friend of Chiloba’s, recalled: "We always called him pastor because he liked to pray a lot. He was sociable, relating well with everyone around him.” After graduating, Chilo then went on to pursue higher education at Moi University's West Campus, where he initially aimed to study education.
But a passion for fashion emerged strongly during Chiloba’s third year at Moi University. He actively started participating in photoshoots and pageants, as well as creating his own outfits from scratch. As a result of this shift, he encountered continued disapproval from his relatives, who perceived these artistic endeavors negatively, with some even believing that Chiloba was being influenced by Satan. This discord eventually led to Chiloba’s departure from Moi University, and he subsequently moved to Nairobi to focus on fashion design. During this difficult transitional period, he encountered missionary couple Peter and Donna Pfaltzgraff through social media. With their support, Chiloba moved to Eldoret in 2019 to enroll in a fashion design course at the University of Eldoret, which marked a significant turning point in both his life and career.
Chiloba then quickly started to make a name for himself in Kenya's fashion scene, known for his bold, gender-free designs and charismatic presence. In 2021, his rising profile and brand were recognized with a nomination for the Pulse Fashion Influencer of the Year award. On social media, Chiloba often promoted himself as a designer, stylist, and model, and his online presence teemed with images of his lengthy, angular frame modeling crop tops, high heels, and fitted suits in vivid colors. Chiloba’s clothing designs seamlessly blended high fashion with African aesthetics, and he frequently incorporated traditional fabrics like kitenge and Maasai prints into modern silhouettes. Chiloba’s one-time lover, Muriithi Kariuki, recalled first meeting Chiloba while enduring a long wait at a bus terminal, describing him as “6 '2, wearing a shirt with fur-like imprints on the collar, straightened black trousers and heels a few inches tall. He was a breathtaking figure and a sight that easily made me forget the hours of waiting.”
Beyond his rising success in fashion, Chiloba also developed into an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in Kenya, courageously confronting societal marginalization and promoting visibility for the often marginalized queer community. On social media, he frequently declared his commitment to fighting for those facing discrimination, often highlighting his own personal experiences of marginalization. Chiloba also saw fashion as a powerful tool and medium for activism, and many of his designs were not just about aesthetics but also intentionally challenged societal norms. One notable ensemble of his, for example, featured a black crop top with rainbow sleeves emblazoned with the word “ICON,” paired with distressed jeans and a colorful handbag, reflecting his advocacy for LGBTQ+ visibility. In another design-shoot post, he employed this Maya Angelou quote: “Seek the fashion which truly fits and befits you. You will always be in fashion if you are true to yourself, and only if you are true to yourself.”
With his career just on the rise and a whole life of designing and activism ahead of him, Chiloba’s life was tragically cut short on January 6th, 2023, when he was just 25 years old. His body was discovered in a metal trunk along a roadside near Eldoret, shocking Kenya and drawing international attention. Police had been tipped off by a motorcycle taxi driver who reportedly saw the box being dumped by a car with no license plates. The body was then transported to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital to establish a cause of death, where it was reportedly described as wrapped in women's clothing.
Early investigations into the tragedy quickly pointed to Jackton Odhiambo, a photographer and longtime friend of Chiloba, who was arrested and later convicted of the murder. When he was apprehended, Odhiambo is said to have told detectives that he killed Chiloba for cheating on him, indicating that they were, in fact, more than friends. Further investigations revealed that Chiloba had been smothered to death and sexually assaulted prior to the murder and that his death had been meticulously planned. Although Kenyan authorities refrained from categorizing Chiloba's murder explicitly as a hate crime, his death undeniably highlighted the pervasive dangers faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in a nation where homosexuality remains criminalized.
Several LGBTQ+ rights groups and activists immediately interpreted Chiloba’s killing within the broader context of societal homophobia, noting how systemic discrimination and fear often exacerbate vulnerabilities to violence—including intimate partner violence—within marginalized communities. At the time, the independent Kenya Human Rights Commission called Chiloba’s killing both “reprehensible” and “deeply unjust,” expressing concern about the recently escalating violence targeting gay Kenyans: “This is a frightening crime but it’s becoming common in Kenya—evidence of a growing epidemic of violence in the country.”
The global outrage that followed Chiloba’s death highlighted both the individual impact he had made in such a short timespan but also tackled the broader challenges confronting LGBTQ+ rights in Kenya. As is often the case when a notable queer individual is unjustly murdered, activists and human rights organizations seized the moment to try to advocate for urgent reform, stronger protections for sexual minorities, and greater accountability in cases of violence against LGBTQ+ individuals in Kenya. "Edwin's death reminds us that queer bodies continue to be under attack all over the country," the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission wrote in a statement online.
Jackton Odhiambo was eventually sentenced to 50 years in prison in December of 2024, a verdict hailed by advocates as a significant, albeit sobering, step toward justice. Chiloba, meanwhile, was laid to rest in his hometown of Sergoit on January 17, 2023. He was remembered and eulogized by loved ones not only for his promising talent as an up-and-coming fashion designer but also for his courageous advocacy and unwavering pursuit of LGBTQ+ equality and acceptance. On the day of Chiloba’s burial, Irungu Houghton, the executive director of Amnesty International's Kenya branch, wrote: "Today, a peaceful person is buried. Rest in Power Edwin Chiloba. Salute [to] your courage to authentically live your life." A few years later, not much has changed in Kenya, but Edwin Chiloba’s life and untimely death continue to inspire activism and further conversations about LGBTQ+ rights, visibility, and the ongoing fight against discrimination in the country, which continues to criminalize and discriminate against individuals on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Back in 2022, Chiloba himself hauntingly foreshadowed his impact in a self-reflective social media post: “Edwin, the ones who tried to bury you didn’t know you were a seed.”
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
Disclaimer: some of the sources may contain triggering material
Chweya, Edward. “Edwin Chiloba: The Inside Story of Slain Model, LGBTQ Activist’s Life.” Citizen Digital, January 16, 2023. https://www.citizen.digital/news/edwin-chiloba-the-inside-story-of-slain-model-lgbtq-activists-life-n312699.
Dahir, Abdi Latif. “Kenyan Gay Rights Activist, Edwin Chiloba, Is Killed.” The New York Times, January 6, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/06/world/africa/kenya-gay-activist-chiloba-murder.html.
Dahir, Abdi Latif. “Roommate Convicted in Murder of Kenyan Gay Rights Activist.” The New York Times, December 5, 2024. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/world/africa/kenya-edwin-chiloba-murder.html.
Kariuki, Muriithi. “Edwin Chiloba, My First Love.” Minority Africa - Journalism for minorities by minorities, May 12, 2023. https://minorityafrica.org/edwin-chiloba-my-first-love/.
Leonard, Lana. “Edwin Chiloba’s Murder Sparks International Response to Global LGBTQ Decriminalization and Equality.” GLAAD, April 13, 2023. https://glaad.org/edwin-chilobas-murder-sparks-international-response-global-lgbtq-decriminalization-and/.
Lime, Ashley. “Edwin Chiloba: Kenyan Photographer Gets 50 Years for Murdering LGBTQ+ Activist.” BBC News, December 16, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdx9501vejdo.
Musambi, Evelyne. “A Court in Kenya Finds a Housemate Guilty in the Killing of an LGBTQ Activist.” AP News, December 4, 2024. https://apnews.com/article/kenya-gay-rights-activist-edwin-chiloba-6206e81ac71ca51325f212efce4014bd
Naranjo, José. “The Brutal Murder of Activist Edwin Chiloba in Kenya Shocks the LGBTQ+ Community.” EL PAÍS English, January 16, 2023. https://english.elpais.com/international/2023-01-17/the-brutal-murder-of-activist-edwin-chiloba-in-kenya-shocks-the-lgtbi-community.html.
Ombuor, Rael. “Murder of Gay Activist Triggers Trauma for Kenya’s LGBTIQ Community.” openDemocracy, January 12, 2023. https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/edwin-chiloba-murder-lgbtiq-kenya-africa/.
Omondi, Ferdinand. “Kenyan LGBTQ Activist Edwin Chiloba Buried.” BBC News, January 17, 2023. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-64303632.
Wasike, Andrew. “Kenya Man Gets 50 Years in Prison for Killing LGBTQ Activist – DW – 12/16/2024.” dw.com, December 16, 2024. https://www.dw.com/en/kenya-man-gets-50-years-in-prison-for-killing-lgbtq-activist/a-70974759.
Zane, Damian. “Edwin Chiloba: LGBTQ Activist Found Dead in Kenya.” BBC News, January 6, 2023. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-64184372.