Cohen murder: Sarah Wairimu’s bail application to be determined on February 18

Sarah Wairimu Kamotho, the main suspect in the murder of businessman Tob Cohen, will have to remain in police cells until February 18 when Kibera High Court is expected to give a ruling on her bail and bond release application.

This comes after the prosecution filed a lengthy affidavit opposing her release on bail and or bond.

ASP Maxwell Otieno, one of the investigating police officers in his affidavit says that some witnesses in the murder of Tob Cohen have expressed having been intimidated, coerced and threatened by Sarah and her proxies forcing the prosecution to place them under witness protection programme.

The prosecution in view of the said allegations pleaded with the court to deny Sarah bond pending the hearing and determination of the murder case.

In the case, Sarah is charged with one count of murder where the prosecution alleged that on the night of July 19 and 20, 2019, jointly with others not before court, murdered Tob Chichou Cohen.

According to the police, at the time of murder, Sarah was cohabiting with the deceased Cohen who hailed from the Kingdom of Netherlands at Farasi Lane, Lower Kabete area in Nairobi.

Lady Justice Diana Kavedza heard that police established that embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands had contacted Sarah on July 25, 2019 to enquire on the whereabouts of the deceased Cohen.

However, Sarah allegedly told the Embassy that Cohen had left Kenya for Thailand on July 20,2019.

This information would later be proved invalid via a call to the Kenya immigration department that confirmed that Cohen never travelled outside Kenya on the said date.

It is alleged by the police that after the murder of Tob Cohen, Sarah instructed her workers to lie about material facts clearly intimidating key prosecution witnesses.

Sarah is alleged to have made a report of missing person at Spring Valley Police Station after she was informed of the inquiry on the disappearance of Tob Cohen under OB number 17/06/08/2019.

Tob Cohen’s lifeless body was later found in an underground water tank at his residential home.

Sarah was then charged with the murder of Tob Cohen at Milimani High Court but in November 30, 2022 the prosecution sought to terminate the case to allow investigations.

The case was then registered as an inquest in 2023 and in October 2, 2024, Kibera High Court was informed that the ODPP had received new compelling evidence that necessitated review of the matter and in January 2025 Sarah Wairimu Kamotho was charged with the murder of Tob Cohen.

The case will proceed on February 18, 2025.