Five suspects appeared before an Eldoret court Monday over the murder of LGBTQ activist Edwin Kiprotich Kiptoo alias Chiloba.
They include three underage suspects.
Senior Principal Richard Odenyo granted the police plea to hold them for 21 days in order to facilitate the completion of investigations.
The five include Jacktone Odhiambo who is the prime suspect.
Eldoret South DCI boss Stephen Mumba successfully made an application seeking to hold the suspects for investigations to be completed.
Mumba said in an affidavit he was investigating a case of murder of one Edwin Kiprotich Kiptoo alias Chiloba.
“We need 21 days to complete investigations because an autopsy is yet to be done,” he said.
He added some of the accused assisted in moving the body of the deceased from his house to a Toyota Fielder vehicle which is currently detained at Langas Poole Station.
He said the vehicle and house have to be subjected to forensic examination.
Prior to his death of deceased had hanged out with Jacktone at some places where CCTV was yet to be retrieved for forensic examination.
He said the mobile phone used by the deceased was yet to be recovered.
“There are others yet to be arrested. We fear a compromise in investigations and they are a flight risk. They May be harmed if released on bail,” said the officer.
Jacktone briefly told the court that he was not familiar with the faces of those he was in court with and that his family will not survive if he was not released on bond.
“I request to be released on bond so that I continue with my work to support my family,” he said.
The case will be mentioned on January 31, 2023.
