Family, friends call for justice as stylist Chiloba is buried

Mourners at the burial of Edwin Kiprotich Kiptoo alias Chiloba on Tuesday asked the government to thoroughly investigate the killing of the fashion stylist and model.

The fashion and design student at the University of Eldoret was laid to rest at his parents' home in Sergoit, Elgeyo Marakwet, where he was eulogised as a humble high school pastor who loved fashion and modeling.

Family, friends, former teachers and classmates eulogised Chiloba as a Christian Union (CU) chair at St Francis Kimuron Secondary school in Elgeyo Marakwet.

World and Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Korir was among Chiloba's classmates who attended the burial.

Chiloba was in the school from 2012 to 2015 when he sat his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examinations.

Chiloba's family asked the government to help them find justice. They also said they wanted assistance in knowing the circumstances that led to his killing.

In Sergoit, where he was born and brought up, Chiloba was commonly known by his middle name - Kiprotich.

"We are yet to come to terms with Kiprotich's death. To date, what happened remains a mystery," Chiloba's aunt Margaret Jepyegon said.

Jepyegon said Chiloba was loved by his family and friends and asked investigative agencies to thoroughly probe the circumstances surrounding his killing and tell them the truth.

Chiloba's decomposing body, stuffed in a metal box was discovered along Kaptinga-Kipkenyo road in Kapseret sub-county on January 3.

"He (Chiloba) was not involved in a road accident. We urge the government to do all it can to find out why he was killed," Jepyegon said.

"My nephew died a painful death. He was not a thief and never provoked anyone. I was shocked by his death. We loved him so much."

Barnaba Kiptoo said he witnessed his nephew's postmortem and learned that he died a painful death. "I don't have the courage to say more things at the moment," he said Kiptoo said.

Chiloba's cousins, Caudencia and Magdalene said no one had a right to kill Chiloba and called for speedy investigations.

"My cousin had a great future. He had great plans for 2023. To the government, you have helped us so far, but help us get justice and have closure. We urge the country to allow him to rest in peace. Many people did not understand him," Caudencia said.

Titus Kimutai, Chiloba's former class teacher from Form One to Form Four said the late fashion model was elected class prefect in Form One and he became CU chair in Form Three.

Joel Ondieri, one of Chiloba's schoolmates said: "We knew him as a pastor."