For more than six weeks, Michael Kimutai has been living through an agonising wait, hoping that his missing wife will return home or that someone will finally provide information about her whereabouts. Every passing day has brought more questions, deepening uncertainty and growing anxiety for a family desperate for answers.
Lily Cherono Kimutai, 53, reportedly disappeared after sending her husband a text message on the evening of September 9, 2026, informing him that she was travelling to Mombasa for a holiday. What appeared to be an ordinary message has since become the last known communication between the couple, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions.
Michael, 57, a former presidential escort who served during the Daniel arap Moi era, was in Nairobi at the time, where he had travelled for medical tests. According to his account, the proposed trip caught him by surprise because the couple had not discussed any plans for a holiday.
He reportedly attempted to respond to his wife’s message, but his reply did not go through. Since that evening, her phone has remained switched off, leaving him without a reliable way of establishing where she went or whether she was safe.
When Michael eventually returned to their home in Kaplamai, Cherangany Constituency, in Trans Nzoia County, he encountered an unsettling scene. The house was locked, and his wife was nowhere to be found.
More troubling, his licensed firearm and its case were also missing.
The disappearance of both Lily and the weapon has heightened concerns surrounding the case, prompting Michael to appeal to the public for assistance as investigators work to establish what happened.
In an effort to obtain information that could help resolve the mystery, the former presidential escort is offering a reward of KSh 200,000 to anyone who provides information leading to the whereabouts of his wife or the missing firearm.
Speaking about his fears, Michael expressed concern that whoever might be in possession of the weapon could potentially pose a danger to him.
“I can’t help but wonder if whoever has my gun might be looking for me,” he said, according to the account of his ordeal.
His remarks reflect the anxiety surrounding the disappearance, particularly as the circumstances under which both his wife and the firearm went missing remain unclear.
The situation has also taken an emotional toll on the family. Michael’s children reportedly travelled back from abroad after receiving news of their mother’s disappearance, returning home to support their father and join the search for answers.
He has described the past several weeks as a nightmare, with the family struggling to cope with the uncertainty of not knowing where Lily is or what might have happened to her.
The investigation has since intensified, with detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) establishing a tent at the family homestead as they pursue leads.
Investigators have reportedly been questioning farm workers and collecting exhibits in an effort to reconstruct Lily’s final known movements and establish the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. Their inquiries are expected to help determine whether a criminal act may have occurred.
Reports indicate that there were no apparent signs of a struggle or forced entry at the home. However, the absence of such signs does not, on its own, explain Lily’s disappearance or establish what happened to the missing firearm.
Michael, who previously suffered a stroke and has been undergoing medical observation, had recently relocated from Kitale town to the family home to concentrate on farming.
Instead of enjoying a quieter life in the countryside, he now finds himself caught in a distressing situation, waiting for information that could bring relief to his family and help investigators piece together the events of September 9.
As the search continues, the family is appealing to anyone who may have seen Lily, knows of her movements after the final message, or has information concerning the missing firearm to come forward.
Anyone with relevant information is urged to report to the nearest police station or contact the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
For Michael and his children, the hope remains that someone, somewhere, holds a crucial piece of information that could finally break the silence surrounding Lily’s disappearance and help the family discover what happened to their loved one.
