A retired police officer from Trans Nzoia County is living in anguish after his wife vanished without warning roughly six weeks ago, taking his service firearm with her and leaving the family desperate for answers.
Lilly Cherono Kimtai, 53, was last seen at the couple’s home in the Cherangany area of Trans Nzoia County.
Her husband, Michael Kimtai, a former police officer who once served as a presidential guard, has since gone public with a plea for assistance, hoping someone in Kenya knows where she is.
How did Lilly Cherono disappear?
On the afternoon she disappeared, Michael was in Nairobi undergoing medical tests when he received a message from Lilly at around 1.30 pm.
She told him she was exhausted and intended to travel to Mombasa, a plan the couple had never discussed. That message was the last he heard from her directly.
What made the situation more alarming was the discovery that his gun had also gone missing alongside his wife. Michael said the combination of her disappearance and the missing firearm has left him unable to sleep.
“I do not sleep and that is why I am appealing for help to find my wife and gun. I know investigations take time but I fear that whoever is having the gun might look for me. I am giving out the money to entice Kenyans to help me, the money is ready,” he said.
To encourage members of the public to come forward, Michael announced a reward of KSh 200,000 for anyone who provides information leading police to locate both his wife and the firearm.
“I will give KSh 200,000 to whoever will give credible information to the police towards the recovery of my gun and missing wife so that it can give me peace, it has not been an easy time for me since she went missing,” he said.
Kimutai’s children fly from abroad to look for missing mum
The ordeal has taken a heavy toll beyond just the couple. Michael revealed that his children had to cut short stays abroad and return home to find out what had happened to their mother, an experience he described as deeply painful for the entire family.
In a follow-up interview, Michael acknowledged some progress in the case. Lilly’s mobile phone has been recovered by investigators, and two suspects have been arrested and are cooperating with police.
“I thank the police and members of the public for the work they have done so far,” he said, while urging investigators to intensify their efforts.
Despite the small steps forward, Michael said the silence in his home weighs on him daily, and he continues to hold out hope that his wife will be found safe.
