The disappearance of a 53-year-old woman from her home in Trans Nzoia has triggered a police investigation after her family discovered that a firearm belonging to her husband was also missing.
Lily Chorono Kimtai, the wife of Michael Kimtai, a former security officer attached to retired President Daniel Moi’s security detail, has been missing since September 9. Her disappearance has prompted detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to search the family’s home in Kaplamai, Cherangany Constituency, for evidence that could help establish what happened.
Michael said he reported the matter to senior police authorities and that the police high command was aware that his wife had gone missing. He said he was in Nairobi undergoing medical tests when Lily sent him a message at about 7:30pm on September 9 informing him that she intended to travel to Mombasa the following day for a leisure trip. The message caught him off guard, as he said he had not been aware of any plans for the journey.
Lily’s phone was subsequently unreachable, heightening the family’s concerns about her whereabouts. The following morning, a farmhand was sent to check on her after she failed to respond. The worker reportedly found the house locked.
Investigators later established that the firearm, which Michael said was legally licensed, and its case were missing from the premises. Michael said the disappearance of the weapon raised questions about whether someone could have entered the home and forced Lily to surrender it.
He suggested that whoever may have been involved could have known that he kept a firearm at the residence. The farmhand also recalled seeing Lily at the home on Wednesday evening before she disappeared. She had reportedly called the worker earlier that day to assist with chores before he left her at the house. The following day, the worker said other farm workers questioned why Lily had not called him to help with his usual duties.
Investigators are now examining phone records, movements and accounts from people who may have interacted with Lily before she disappeared. Police are also seeking to establish whether the missing firearm is connected to her disappearance or whether the two incidents occurred independently.
The family remains hopeful that Lily will be found as detectives continue efforts to reconstruct her final known movements and determine what happened at the home.
