Justice Reuben Nyakundi delivered the verdict on Monday, December 16, describing the crime as premeditated and motivated by malice.
"I have looked at the matter and weighed all balances and the middle ground between the death penalty and life imprisonment is that you serve 50 years in jail for this offense," he said.
Justice Nyakundi outlined how Odhiambo meticulously planned and executed the crime, and even used Chiloba’s money to purchase a metallic box in which the victim's body was later found.
Odhiambo also hired a vehicle to transport the body and attempted to conceal evidence.
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"The killing was premeditated and was with ill will and malice the extent that the accused used money from the deceased to buy a metallic box, hired a vehicle to carry body and concealed evidence. The footprints to this crime are all traceable to the accused," he added.
Chiloba was tragically murdered in early January 2023.
His body was found stuffed in a metal box on the side of a road in Kipkenyo days before Odhiambo was arrested and convicted of the crime.
According to the authorities, Chiloba had been suffocated, with clothing used to smother him.
Additionally, evidence presented in court showed that Odhiambo had a personal relationship with Chiloba and was last seen with him shortly before his death.
Witnesses who later talked to the media claimed they heard cries from their shared apartment the night of the incident.
The case drew significant attention because of Chiloba's activism and highlighted issues of violence faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Kenya.
