We Love You - Edwin Chiloba's Parents Mourn Murdered Son

A collage image of Edwin Chiloba, the activist (left)  with his adoptive parents at a past event (right).
A collage image of Edwin Chiloba, the activist (left) with his adoptive parents at a past event (right).
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Donna Pfaltzgraff

LGBTQ activist Edwin Chiloba's adoptive parents spoke for the first time after his body was discovered in a metallic box in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu county.

In a statement dated Friday, January 6, Chiloba's mother Donna Pfaltzgraff expressed her grief over the incident.

She promised to share more details of the incident in the coming days, even as she asked Kenyans to pray for the family.

"Our hearts are broken tonight. We will give more details when we can share more.

Edwin Chiloba and his adoptive parents taking lunch in July 2019.
Edwin Chiloba and his adoptive parents taking lunch in July 2019.
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Peter Pfaltzgraff

"Please pray for us," read the statement in part.

The father - Peter Pfaltzgraff - on the other hand, stated that they loved their son. He also shared images of their family moments together.

"Edwin, we love you," read the statement in part.

Hours after the body was discovered, police arrested his best friend, who was accused of being the prime suspect in the case. Chiloba reportedly lived with the friend, a Nairobi-based freelance photographer. 

News of Chiloba's death caused an uproar on social media as police kicked off their investigations into the murder of the activist.

DCI detectives probe a crime scene in Kenya
DCI detectives probe a crime scene in Kenya
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Reports indicated that the activist was murdered, placed in a  metallic box with his body dumped by a vehicle that did not have a registration number plate.

Consequently, Kenyans and civil societies called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to investigate the matter and bring the culprits to account for their actions.

"Every day, the human rights of LGBTQ+ persons are being violated with little consequence for perpetrators.

"We are calling on DCI  and the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji to conduct swift investigations and ensure the killers are apprehended & prosecuted," Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHCR) stated.

The police are yet to make public findings of the preliminary investigations.

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