Sarah Wairimu Rearrested As DPP Revisits Tob Cohen Murder Case
The Director of Public Prosecutions, (DPP) had directed that Wairimu be charged with murder contrary to Section 203 as read with 204 of the Penal Code.
Marvin Chege 
Sarah Wairimu, the widow of Dutch tycoon Tob Cohen, was arrested again on Thursday, January 23 and is set to face fresh murder charges over her husband's death in 2019.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, (DPP) had directed that Wairimu be charged with murder contrary to Section 203 as read with 204 of the Penal Code.
The decision was made after the DPP made overwhelming evidence showing that she murdered her husband, Tob Chichou Cohen on the night of July 19 and 20, 2019 at Lower Kabete Area, within Nairobi County.
In particular, the DPP, Renson Ingonga, confirmed receipt of new material that would be instrumental in the murder case. "Wairimu’s impending arraignment following her arrest on 23rd January 2025 comes after the DPP received new material in relation to Cohen’s death from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)," the DPP stated in part.
Tob Cohen (now deceased) and his wife Sarah Cohen. /NAIROBI NEWS
"Consequently, the DPP made an application for the termination of an inquest into the murder, which was granted. Upon independent and thorough review of the new material, the DPP is satisfied that Ms Wairimu was involved in the death of Tob Cohen."
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions restated its commitment to executing its mandate as per the rule of law, with due regard to public interest, administration of justice, and prevention of abuse of legal process.
Detectives from the Homicide Investigations Bureau immediately arrested Sarah upon receipt of the DPP’s recommendation and detained her at Kilimani Police Station, awaiting court proceedings on Friday, January 24.
Investigators say Sarah is expected to take a plea on the murder charges when she is presented in court, with the case expected to start immediately after.
Wairimu was facing murder charges following the death of the 71-year-old whose body was discovered in a septic tank in their compound in the couple’s Kitisuru home. She was immediately arrested and later charged with the murder which she denied and was freed on bond.
Cohen had lived in Kenya for 32 years. He died in Nairobi on an unknown date between July 20 and September 13, 2019.
The move by DPP Ingonga is a U-turn from that of his predecessor, Noordin Haji, who withdrew the murder case on November 30, 2022. Prosecutor Wangui Gichuhi had expressed an intention not to proceed with the matter.
"I hereby enter a Nolle Prosequi (do not prosecute) and inform this Honourable court that the Republic intends that the criminal proceedings against the above-named persons who are charged with the offence of Murder contrary to section 203 as read with section 204 of the Penal Code, Laws of Kenya shall not continue," the statement read in part then.
Sarah in October 2022 called for the investigation and prosecution of former DCI boss George Kinoti over his role in alleged fabrications and skewed investigations against her. Kinoti who was heading the investigative agency at the time visited the scene after the discovery of Cohen’s body and gave numerous media interviews.
“The body has been found in what we initially thought to be a septic tank at his home but we later realized it was an underground water tank,” Kinoti had revealed to Capital FM at the scene of the crime, accompanied by detectives from the DCI’s Homicide Department.
Following the discovery, Kinoti opened criminal proceedings against the victim’s wife who was named as the prime suspect in the brutal murder that made headlines across the country.
But Sarah through her lawyer Philip Murgor wanted Kinoti investigated following a revelation that the former DCI Director-General could have lied about the role of Court of Appeal judge Sankale Ole Kantai who was implicated in the murder of the Dutch tycoon.
