Suspect held after body of fashion model Edwin Chiloba was found in a metal box

The mutilated body of Edwin Chiloba was discovered in a metal box along Kipkenyo-Kaptinga in Kipkenyo. [Twitter]

Police in Eldoret are holding one suspect in connection to the murder of fashion model and activist Edwin Kiprotich Kiptoo popularly known as Chiloba.

The police were still looking for two more suspects. The mutilated body of Kiptoo was discovered in a metal box along Kipkenyo-Kaptinga in Kipkenyo.

His family positively identified his body at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) Eldoret morgue.

According to the police, Kiptoo was a fourth-year student at the University of Eldoret.

Uasin Gishu Deputy County Police Commander Zacchaeus Ngeno said members of the public discovered an abandoned box in the village, and upon opening it, they were shocked to find the activist's mutilated body.

According to Mr Ngeno, one of his eyes had been gouged out during the discovery on Tuesday.

The police boss said the suspect, who is in police custody, was helping investigators with the circumstances surrounding the brutal killing.

He said the suspect was spotted with Kiptoo on New Year's eve before his decomposing body was discovered.

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (LGBTQ) activist was a fashion designer in Eldoret.

Investigators handling the case said the suspect is a freelance photojournalist who was spotted with him at Tamasha Place nightclub. They said they are looking for two more suspects.

His family recalled his last moments. His sister Melvin Faith and Gladys Kiptoo gathered at the morgue where a postmortem was done. Faith, who works at Tamasha Place, a popular nightclub along the Eldoret-Kapsabet road said her brother came to the entertainment joint where he ushered in the new year.

''My brother arrived at Tamasha Place where I work around 10 pm on Saturday, December 31, 2022, to usher in the New Year, and around 1 am after the new year fireworks, we met and celebrated together. He bid me farewell saying he would miss me," Faith said.

She said the family became worried after the deceased's phone went off, and could not be found in his house. According to the slain activist's family, Chiloba lived in a rented house in Kimumu off the Eldoret-Iten Road.

Rift Valley Regional Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss Francis Wanjau told The Standard that investigators have got good leads.

A boda boda rider who was interviewed by the police said that he saw a vehicle without number plates dropping the metallic box before driving away.

Police who were manning a nearby roadblock were notified of what had happened and they rushed to the scene where they found Chiloba's body.

When they opened the metallic box they found the decomposing body.

A short video clip has also emerged online showing Kiptoo making merry with his friends and dancing to Sauti Sol's song Live and Die in Afrika on New Year's Day