An autopsy done on the body of the late LGBTQ+ activist and fashion designer Edwin Kiptoo alias Chiloba has finally revealed the cause of his death.
The autopsy was done on January 11, 2023, at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret town.
It was supervised by chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor.
Sharing details of the autopsy report to journalists, Oduor said Chiloba, a final-year student at the University of Eldoret died as a result of suffocation.
However, his body had no physical injuries.
But with questions over why there were no signs of the LGBTQ+ activist resisting when he was being suffocated, the government pathologist said they had taken more samples to ascertain whether he was dragged before being suffocated.
“We did not find any physical injuries on his body and this is why we have taken more samples that will help us get answers as to why he never resisted suffocation,” Oduor told journalists.
Socks in the mouth
The suffocation, the autopsy revealed, might have been a result of socks that were found stuffed in the mouth.
He had three pieces of socks in his mouth.
“The three socks made it difficult for the deceased to breathe,” said the government pathologist.
Earlier, there were reports that Chiloba’s eyes had been gouged off, assumptions the autopsy has now dismissed.
According to the government pathologists, all his eyes were intact and eyewitnesses had mistaken sunken eyes caused by the body decomposing to them being removed.
Results for further tests are expected to give a clear picture of what transpired before his death.
Edwin Chiloba’s body was discovered stuffed in a metal box that was dropped by a vehicle that had no number plate along Kipkenyo-Kaptinga road on the outskirts of Eldoret town on January 3, 2022.
The body would however be identified days later.
Already five suspects linked to the murder, among them freelance photographer Jackton Odhiambo have been arrested and arraigned in court.
The court, however, on January 9, 2022, allowed the police to hold the suspects for 21 more days so as to conclude their investigations.
They are expected to be back in court on January 31, 2023, to take a plea.
