Nearly five years after the death of Dutch businessman Tob Cohen, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has found new evidence against Sarah Wairimu, his wife.
This is the second time she has been arrested. Wairimu was first arrested in 2019 when the Dutchman’s body was found in a septic tank on July 19 in the Lower Kabete Area, within Nairobi County but was released after the case was withdrawn.
The DPP reviewed the murder case and found that Sarah had a case to answer and directed her arrest. He revealed that there was overwhelming evidence showing that Wairimu murdered her husband.
“Upon independent and thorough review of the new material, the DPP is satisfied that Wairimu was involved in the death of Tob Cohen,” the DPP noted on Thursday in a statement to the director of Criminal Investigations.
Businessman Tob Cohen whose body was found murdered on September 13, 2019 and wife Sarah Cohen
“Ms Wairimu’s impending arraignment following her arrest on 23rd January 2025 comes after the DPP received new material about Mr Cohen’s death from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI),” the DPP continued.
DPP Benson Ingonga approved the re-arrest after investigators expressed dissatisfaction with the decision by former DPP Noordin Haji to withdraw the murder trial.
Two years ago, Haji informed a Nairobi court of his decision to withdraw the case against Wairimu and her co-accused, Peter Karanja. He further stated that, instead of pursuing the murder case, the court should order an inquest to be conducted at the Milimani Law Courts.
Wairimu and her co-accused denied the charges before High Court Judge Stella Mutuku and were released on a cash bail of Ksh2 million each.
Wairimu is currently detained at the Kilimani Police Station and is set to be arraigned in court today (Friday, 24 January), where she is expected to take a plea.
She previously maintained her innocence, claiming in 2020 that Cohen was killed and his body dumped in a septic tank at their home while she was in police custody.
Cohen had been reported missing before police made the bizarre discovery of his body in a septic tank on July 19, 2019, prompting her arrest at the time.
Tob Cohen, a former top executive at Philips, fell in love with Kenya during his assignment and decided to make it his home until his tragic death.
Sarah Cohen visits her husband’s grave at the Jewish Cemetery on Thursday, January 30, 2020
Photo/ Crime Watchdog