The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has ordered the re-arrest of Sarah Wairimu, the wife of the late Dutch businessman Tob Cohen, after discovering new evidence linking her to his murder.
Wairimu was first arrested in 2019 when Cohen’s body was found in a septic tank at their home in Lower Kabete, Nairobi. The case was later withdrawn, and she was released. However, the DPP has now reviewed the case and concluded that there is sufficient evidence to prosecute her.
“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 said in a statement on Thursday. He confirmed that her arrest followed fresh information from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
DPP Benson Ingonga approved the re-arrest after investigators criticized the decision by former DPP Noordin Haji to drop the case. In 2021, Haji had withdrawn the charges against Wairimu and her co-accused, Peter Karanja, and called for an inquest at the Milimani Law Courts instead.
Wairimu and Karanja had denied the charges and were released on Ksh2 million cash bail each. Wairimu, who has consistently denied involvement, claimed in 2020 that Cohen was killed and his body hidden while she was in police custody.
Currently detained at Kilimani Police Station, Wairimu is set to appear in court today, Friday, January 24, 2025, to take her plea.
Tob Cohen, a former executive at Philips, settled in Kenya after falling in love with the country during his work assignment. He was reported missing before his body was discovered in July 2019, sparking widespread attention and leading to Wairimu’s initial arrest.
