Mystery of missing Belgian as police accused of dragging feet

When Ms Dysseleer Mireille Lesoipa – a Belgian who came, fell in love with and settled in Kenya – was reported missing in June 2019, a series of shocking developments followed that indicated police were inching closer to unravelling the truth. 

A year later, the woman is still missing and hopes of finding out what befell her keep diminishing by the day.

Neither Ms Mireille’s body nor records showing where she was buried or cremated can be found.

What remains of the once spirited effort by the police to get to the bottom of the matter is a push and pull between the Judiciary and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

The sad tale of the woman who migrated to Kenya after falling in love with a Samburu dancer keeps fading away.

Hairdresser charged

A palatial house she bought after divorcing her husband, Emmanuel Lesoipa, still stands – under a new occupant – in the posh Hazina homes neighbourhood in Nakuru County.

Sources say a bishop bought the house estimated to be valued at Sh30 million and rented it out.

Besides fond memories, friends and neighbours expressed bitterness at the possibility of the matter fizzling out.

Mr Macharia, who works as a caretaker at the estate, said he knew Ms Mireille well as he helped her move into the house in 2018.

“She was a very good woman, generous and kind-hearted. She would surprise most casual workers and guards with gifts during Christmas and other holidays,” Mr Macharia said.

When Ms Mireille disappeared, the caretaker thought she had travelled abroad as phone calls were not going through.

Mr Macharia said he only learnt from the media that the woman had gone missing.

“The tragic news broke my heart. I never thought such misfortune could befall her as we never saw her fight with anyone,” he said.

Toyota Prado

Another casual worker said Ms Mireille, whom they saw driving her Toyota Prado around, appeared healthy, full of life and always entertained guests.

“There is this brown woman who would visit her regularly and they seemed to be very close. Though old, she was bubbly and healthy,” the worker said.

The neighbours, friends and other Kenyans who knew her are still not sure what happened to Ms Mireille and cannot wait to know the outcome of the investigations.

After making two arrests and suspending the succession matter filed in court, police seem to have wrapped up their job without unravelling the puzzle of the woman’s disappearance.

They charged Nakuru-based lawyer Hari Gakinya and his cousin Lucy Waithera Njuguna, a hairdresser, with murder.

Police said the two, jointly with others not in court, conspired to eliminate the Belgian in order to inherit her wealth, estimated to be valued at more than Sh100 million.

Interestingly, despite charging the lawyer with murder, police have challenged a death certificate he used to file a succession case in Nakuru where he is seeking to be granted letters of administration for Ms Mireille’s estate.

Mr Gakinya was arrested based on police suspicion that some of the documents he used in the suit were a forgery.

The lawyer was also found driving Ms Mireille’s vehicle.

The DCI through Sgt Franklin Kiraithe successfully petitioned the court to halt proceedings in the succession matter pending their investigations into the whereabouts of Ms Mireille and claims of forgery of the documents.

Mr Kiraithe further sought to be allowed to detain the vehicle, prayers which were granted by Justice Teresia Matheka in December 2019, directing him to complete the investigations within 21 days.

In the succession case, Mr Gakinya claimed Ms Mireille, who had died after a long illness, named him the executor of her last will that was written on November 15, 2018.

The will named seven individuals as beneficiaries of the estate.

They were Mr Ramato Tilia Lenkiok Education, his mother Ntalie Lenolkiok, Elizabeth John Leramat Lebiite Education, her driver John Wanjohi, Mr Daniel Moen and Ms Lucy Waithera Njuguna.

According to the will, Ms Mireille died at MP Shah Hospital, Nairobi, and her body was cremated at the Kariokor crematorium.

What complicates the matter even further is that the criminal case in Kiambu and the succession suit filed in Nakuru appear to defeat each other.

Mr Joseph Karanja, the lawyer representing Mr Gakinya, argues that it will be difficult for police to use the death certificate they have contested as fake in the succession matter to prove the death of Ms Mireille.

Vehicle not released

“If the document is genuine, it means the succession suit filed by Mr Gakinya is in order,” Mr Karanja said.

Police have also been accused of not willing to prosecute the matter.

Last week, Justice Matheka issued summons against Mr Kiraithe to appear in court and explain if he was still interested in the case.

The investigating officer would also be required to explain why he had not released the vehicle belonging to Ms Mireille that was seized from Mr Gakinya, as ordered by the court on January 16.

Appearing before the court, Mr Karanja said he wondered why the police did not want to release the vehicle or appear in court to explain their findings.

Ms Mireille arrived in the Coast in 1993 and married the love of her life Emanuel Lesoipa. However, the two separated in 2004.

She moved to Nakuru in 2018 but went missing in mid-2019.

[email protected]