The high-profile murder trial of Sarah Wairimu Cohen, accused of killing her husband, Dutch businessman Tob Cohen, commenced at the High Court in Nairobi on Thursday before Justice Diana Kavedza.
In a gripping opening statement, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions alleged that Sarah orchestrated the cold-blooded murder of Cohen in a “culmination of a toxic and conflict-ridden marriage.”
Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecution Gikui Gichuhi told the court that the evidence would prove beyond reasonable doubt that Wairimu was responsible for her husband’s death.
“The evidence you will hear throughout this trial will establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the accused, Sarah Wairimu Cohen, is the one who killed her husband, Tob Cohen,” Gichuhi declared.
Tob Cohen, a 69-year-old golf-loving tycoon, was reported missing on July 20, 2019, sparking a 54-day search that ended in tragedy when his body was discovered on September 13, 2019, in an underground water tank at the couple’s Kitisuru home in Nairobi.
The prosecution pinpointed July 19, 2019—the last day Cohen was seen alive—as the date of the murder, alleging that Sarah not only planned but executed the killing in a calculated manner.
The ODPP described the relationship between Cohen and Sarah as deeply troubled, marked by ongoing conflict that ultimately led to the fatal events.
The prosecution’s case will rely on a robust array of evidence, including forensic findings, witness testimonies, expert reports, and scientific analyses such as DNA results, autopsy reports, cybercrime investigations, and entomology studies.
In a broader societal context, the prosecution emphasised that the case highlights the often-overlooked issue of abuse suffered by men at the hands of those they trust most.
“This case is not only about the tragic death of one man but also reflects a larger issue involving the silent abuse that men endure,” the ODPP stated in its address to the court.
Sarah Wairimu Cohen, who was once Cohen’s secretary before their marriage, was re-arrested in January 2025 after a review of the case uncovered sufficient evidence to formally charge her with murder.
This followed an earlier withdrawal of charges in 2022, which had been a point of contention in the case. During a plea hearing last month, the DPP successfully opposed her bail application, ensuring she remains in custody as the trial proceeds.
The trial saw its first witness testify at the crime scene today, with the second witness scheduled to take the stand on Friday, April 4, 2025.
The prosecution team, led by Vincent Monda, includes Wangui Gichuhi, Ebby Maswai, Sarah Ogweno, Peris Maina, Christine Timoi, and Lindah Mwamburi.
The case has drawn significant attention in Kenya and beyond, reviving memories of Cohen’s mysterious death, which had previously been marked by an unconventional “in loving memory” newspaper tribute by his family in July 2024.
Cohen’s marriage to Sarah had deteriorated over time, with ongoing divorce proceedings adding to the tension. Reports from the time of his disappearance noted that Sarah had claimed Cohen traveled to Thailand, a statement later contradicted by the discovery of his body.
Sarah’s defense has previously made sensational claims, including allegations in 2020 that Cohen’s body may have been planted in the Kitisuru compound to frame her, a theory her lawyer, Philip Murgor, argued was shrouded in mystery due to the conduct of investigators.
However, the prosecution remains confident in its evidence, aiming to bring closure to a case that has gripped the nation for over five years.
As the trial unfolds, all eyes will be on the courtroom to see whether the ODPP can secure a conviction in this complex and emotionally charged case.
