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A SUSPECT facing a murder charge over the killing of a prominent LGBTQ activist in Kenya will not face hate crime charges, according to authorities.
Kenyan authorities also said on Tuesday that Jacktone Odhiambo is the only person who will be charged with the murder of Edwin Chiloba after a court released four other suspects.
The murder of Mr Chiloba in January attracted global interest because of the country’s stance on gay rights.
Uasin Gichu county head of investigations Peter Kimulwo said police have ruled out the murder as a hate crime.
Mr Kimulwo said that investigators now believe the murder was linked to a love triangle. Mr Odhiambo, who was arrested earlier this month, is believed to have been Mr Chiloba’s lover.
The body of Mr Chiloba was found on January 4 stuffed in a metal box, dumped at a road near Eldoret where he lived.
Three of the released suspects reportedly helped Mr Odhiambo move Mr Chiloba’s body from the victim’s house. A magistrate on Tuesday ordered all three to report to a police station every month for three months.
Activists, however, have said the murder was a hate crime, saying that fashion designer Mr Chiloba had been targeted for his activism in support of gay rights.
