Slain LGBTQ Activist Edwin Chiloba's Touching Life Story

Edwin Kiproti Kipto, 23 years old, talks about his upbringing and struggles. He was raised by his big brother after his father's death and faced rejection from his family. He found solace in modeling and fashion, which he pursued and gained success in. He is currently studying fashion and design at the University of Eldoret with the support of his new parents. They encourage him to follow his passion while also valuing education. My name is Edwin Kiproti Kipto. I am 23 years old. I was born in Elkia, Marrakech County. My dad has two families and my mom was not with him. So, I was brought up with my big brother, my dad. He brought me up when I was very young, I wasn't even growing up. So, after he brought me up, I came to live with the others, including my dad. So, growing up, he was a good man, he brought me up until I was in class 3, then he passed away. He was sick, he died. After he died, my brother was married. So, he left, he left me, me and my dad. Now, we were all living with Andy, my dad's sister. So, Andy was a good man, he loved to cook for me every day. He would cook for me, he loved me. He would comfort me, bad things. So, I grew up going to church. So, I got to know the people in Zambia, the Christian ones. Like, when you forgive those who have hurt you. So, I was humble back then, I didn't want to interfere with what they were cooking. So, I left because my dad wasn't very concerned about me crying. So, I walked away because I was still in school. So, I went to people, I went to live with people. Sometimes, I even lived with teachers. I explained to them that my house wasn't good, my house was a mess. So, they accepted, some accepted, some accepted. They would wash you for some time, they would dry you. So, the struggle when you are with people, like, you have to work, you have to do the housework, you have to do the laundry. You have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry, you have to do the laundry Ndika ingia school piece, na school piece yake ya kansa kuminformesha sasa Kwa form 1 na form 2, so apo ndiyo alimisaidia sana So, ndika indelea, ndipo ingea ato form 1, ndika indelea kwa kuomba Ndikwa tu na iyo kukristo kwa angu Kuomba, ndika kwa spiritual leader, ndika fika form 2, ndika chakulua kwa prayer coordinator Sasa apo ndiyo baba angu waliansa kuona iyo falu yangu, akansa kulipa school piece So, 2015 ndiyo baba alipas So, ndiyo baba alipopasa, sasa dada angu akansa kuchipin, kukuja kumisaidia kwa Kumisaidia kimaisha So, apo ndiya alimisaidia, ndika join, ndika fusu, ndika pata B- Siku, pata alama mbayo, ndika nipeleka Ndika nipeleka regular, ndika enda parallel Ndika ituwa more university Ndika enda kupursue education Pursuing education, it wasn't really my call, it wasn't really like Nilikuwa na suma, yes, nilifusu wata nikepewa iyo mitiani, results Nilikuwa na pita, lakini sasa hikuwa kole yangu, nilikuwa na wasiwasi Nilikuwa like, let's just try some time Because it wasn't something that I was really into Kwa campus, likuwa most na dwelling modeling Because unajua campus kuna ile Mr. and Ms. more university So, nikaenda lakini siku, by then sikuwa nimepata skills most in modeling So, mimi nikaefika for 3 years Dio mambo sasa iliansa kuhumana Dada angu waliansa kukata, kulipa school fees Iyo zioni nikaenda kumuambia vizuri mimi chenye nikuwa nataka Mini napenda modeling, napenda fashion Yeah, kwelewa Because most nilikuwa na grew up Nilikuwa napenda kupika picha, nilikuwa napenda tu kufaya I used to be unique in my own way Nilikuwa tu napenda kwa unique Kwa unique sasa watu walikua nasema Sasa mikuwa miasa wishetani, sijua napika picha, anakaa naposa aje Mimi nilikuwa tu si mind, sikuwa na mind chenye wanasema Mini I was into my thing Kumwelese haka kubali yes Lakini sikuwa najua, kesha asubuhi alienda kuhambia relative Ndukusa babangu, kwa babangu Dio wakaleta familia hote Sasa iyo asubuhi, wakudia kuniongelesha Nika wambia mini napenda fashion nini Imagine like jadangu saya haka sema mimi si wiki chana, si mutaki Kila mtu saya haka ni kashibu kwa hii familia They used even to go ahead that you are evil, you ni shetani, wewe si mtu tena So mini kutaka toka, like nikaambiwa uwezi kaya hapa kwa hii familia Because utaambukisa watoto wetu So, mini ka walk away After wame decided tukutaki kwa hii familia I walk away so I was facing a lot like a lot by then Because nime shule, siendele, na masomo yangu Najua nilikuwa atatia, karibu ni malise So, nikaansa kuomba marafiki sasa place pa kukaa So, nilipokuwa kwa marafiki wengine Like akikuja na marafiki wensaki Ato ansa kusema, oh unajoo huyu wa hana nyumba, alifokuswa Anasa kusema stories ingine, sijui Wali ansa ato kuungiria stories ambali, kusema wewe ni kei, situ mingi sana Itlikuwa inanihuma sana, itlikuwa inanihuma kabisa So, iyo wanasema unadepende, unataka pesa Ukimuambia mtu storyyaku, anasa kuenda kutangasa Anasema halikuwa anataka usaidisi, edwin, like, situ mingi sana So, itlikuwa inanihuma, lakini siku keep up following I started, ndiyo mana, niliporejectiwa sasa nyumbani Niga kuja kufocus more in modeling and fashion That's when nikaansa kurealize that I wasn't meant for education And now I have been rejected, I don't have otherwise But only to be me, then me impress that thing that I was really in love with Which was fashion in modeling It was 2018, there was this phase of Eldoret Sikuwa nimeenda runway I just feel that confident, nikaambia ito sodako by then designer I told him I want you to dress me in this event Aka nidress and I was, after, I was so shocked because I became Tatra Nasa It was my first time modeling I was so much encouraged I continue, nika kua naendanga practice Na, awa nimeenda It was 2019, nikaenda Nairobi, nika kuja Nairobi Then, kwa Nairobi, nika kuwa, nikaishikuwa rafiki wangu, walikwa rafiki msuri So, nilikuwa Eldoret, nikaambia hache nakuja Nairobi I'm coming to Nairobi, can you host me for a while? Na taka kutapta agency So, aka niambia, it's okay, I can host you So, nika kuja kukaa kwa ake, nika meet I got an agency, 254 Talent Management Which is run by Edward Nyanaro So, Edward Nyanaro aka niambia You can come for a shoot I went for a shoot And I got an agency for modeling After that, I just focused on myself I went back to Eldoret Back in Eldoret is when I got my new parents Dad used to love my fashion so much in Facebook He was my friend in Facebook One day, he DMed me and asked me if I can design them some shirts So, it was almost Christmas Ndiyo, wakaniita, wakaniambia If I can go, sikuwa nimeambia stori yangu If I can go visit them for Christmas, if I am free I went there, nikaenda Kuenda huko, I stayed there for like four days Then, after Christmas, I was supposed to be back to Eldoret So, nika kumbuka tu my story of rejection Lifika yo tare, na tuka kurudi L.E. sata So, I was so depressed because Nikaansa kufikiria tu, like, nidaenda Eldoret, nidaenda kukaa kwa nani Sina mtu wakunilipia rent Like, kusijie chichenga I mean, I am a model, I am a fashion Lakini, uzumajua sasa singine ningumu Kama, unasupport, unamalipo Like, unasadisign nguo Na nguo moja, utapata pesa ya yo siku Lakini, yo ingine utafanya nini So, ni like, nika kumbuka tu yo rejection Nika kumbuka mashida yote ambayo niumepitia Like, machosi tu, nikaansa kulia beleyao Kulia, sasa wakaniambia ni nini tu utawambie Tuka kajini, nika wambia stori yangu They were really touched Even I remember they cried Wakaniambia, don't worry We are wasandu So, apundio, like, I got Like, they accepted me I joined their family Like, dada kaniambia Because now, you have dropped education Do you want to continue or you want to start fashion? I told him, like, nataka kufanya fashion and design So, we look for a school Tuka pata, University of Eldoret To pursue a degree in fashion and design So, like, he supported me It's a parallel and you know parallel How it's expensive Lakini, like, wali ni accept Wakansema, yo awasan Waka accept kunilipia school fees Tuka, nika join So, I'm currently pursuing Bachelor of Fashion and Design In University of Eldoret There was this event Mr. and Ms. Fashion Valentine 2020 So, I went to that event I was really, you know, I have got some skills Now, you're a fashion designer You are so confident about yourself So, like, I wanted to win that title so much I went there with happiness Like, yeah After results were announced I was first runner-up So, I was so happy My parents were so happy Because they have been supportive Like, when we have an event I told, like, dad, mom We have an event I need to get a fashion designer to dress me They accept They say, okay, we believe in you And we want the best in you So, they always support Mostly, they want me to draw in education Of which I love fashion So, I have to draw in I have designed some Many design clothes Which I do love I love being unique Like, I don't copy people I just sit down and come up with a design And I love that Because that's my thing Like, if I post something People just love it And that is me I just focus on myself And I remember the rejection I remember the people What people say When I was wearing some design clothes They were like, huh? Like, at the moment I don't fear I'm confident I'm me, like I don't copy So, I told my sister If then, we don't have any We don't have that relationship We are not family anymore Why don't we divide Because we are two And dad left the farm So, why don't we share the farm Give me, like, my part So, my part of beneficiary My dad's beneficiary So, she told me You can't deal with her You can't come You will talk to the family I went One day, I woke up And I visited them I went They called me Like, my sister was just walking She didn't want me You know, you have gone for a while And then you came back So, there is that walking Someone is begging you Maybe you went to change Maybe something They didn't know me very well They called me They called the family They talked to me They asked me questions I don't know what you will marry Do you have a house? I told them I have But I am not ready to marry I am following my passion Their reaction was like We want you to marry We want you to have children So, we will give you land We can't give you land We will give you land And we will see What you have brought us I told them Go You can't go Until the day you get a family Go back I told them I am not ready now I am following my passion They accepted They said you love your passion Because they have seen the process They have seen the progress That I have made Since the time I left They have seen that I love my passion And they have seen the improvement They have seen that I have improved I know how to save I have grown They said it's ok There is nothing wrong with you doing what you love But you want a family I said it's ok But they told me you can't stay here You can't stay with my children I said it's ok But I don't want to talk to him I don't want to talk to him at all I am thankful I have found a new family I love what I do I told them this is passion And this is me Like sometimes they go ahead Throw some words Saying that you are gay But I never listen to them Because I know who I am What I can say to parents Who really force their children To do what they love But not from the child I can tell them Don't force a child to do something That they love If you have seen something in a child Maybe he loves football He loves... He loves... He loves to run He loves to run As an athlete Support him or her By the way He or she that loves Love that thing Like keep supporting Don't judge them Don't go rejecting them Because of who they are Love them for who they are Like I do take this This role model Lupita Nyong'o She came from a very rich family I mean If their family were not supportive She wouldn't be where she is now Because she loves acting She loves fashion This really touches me To parents who can't accept Children doing what they love Like I do tell most of the parents I tell them Don't ever look upon Don't neglect a child For something he loves If he loves something Support him Support him Support him So what I can tell them From my story You are being touched so much When I see someone Loving something And his wife loves What he is doing It really hurts me Because I understand The struggle I went through I went through And my wife rejected A child doing what he loves So I encourage parents Please please Support Let them do what they love Because everyone I believe that talent Can change someone's life If you love something It can change Look at life Hussein Ball Rodisha I told you Lupita Nyong The people Beyonce Imbaji See it's a talent It's a passion Something he loved If he loved education There are people who love education It's tough for them But if they loved If they loved What they are doing They wouldn't be where they are now It's true passion That people grew Because When you do something you love Like me now I'm doing fashion And I'm modelling Like I find happiness in it It's not something That comes from my heart You find me Even if you come to my house You will see the way I design my house The way it looks It's always in me Something that Brings my joy It brings happiness to me So If you love something Do it Create fun out of it Make fun And love it Thank you for watching!