Case Files: New Evidence From Foreign And DCI Detectives Show How Tob Cohen Was Tortured, Starved Before Death

Dutch national and businessman, Tob Cohen, whose body was discovered in a septic tank within his compound in Nairobi, was starved and tortured before he met his death, a postmortem report has shown.

His wife, Sarah Wairimu Kamotho is the main suspect in the murder and was arrested on Thursday to face fresh murder charges.

Cohen had reportedly “disappeared” from his home on the night of July 19-20, 2019, before his decomposing body was recovered from an underground septic tank in his compound on September 13 of the same year.

The recovery followed extensive investigations involving foreign experts who assisted the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in unravelling the mystery surrounding Cohen’s disappearance. Cohen, a Dutch national and business mogul, was allegedly murdered by farmhands believed to have been hired by Sarah Wairimu to kill and dispose of him.

He was subjected to extensive torture, resulting in both external and internal injuries. He was also starved.

A post-mortem report reviewed by this writer revealed that Cohen sustained a deep cut above the right eye, a severe cranial injury caused by blunt force, and a wide laceration on the head. He also suffered multiple fractures on both hands, bruises over much of his body, broken ribs, and injuries to internal organs. Pathologists concluded that the cause of death was multiple injuries due to blunt trauma.

Although Wairimu was initially charged with Cohen’s murder at the Nairobi High Court in 2019, the charges were withdrawn by the then DPP, Noordin Haji, citing “insufficient evidence.” However, the ODPP now appears better prepared to secure a conviction.

Sarah Wairimu when she was presented before the Kibera High Court on January 24, 2025. (Photo: ODPP)

Foreign experts who assisted the DCI in their investigations are among the witnesses expected to testify, alongside renowned homicide investigator Inspector Maxwell Otieno of the DCI Homicide Unit and his colleague, Inspector Clement Mwangi.

Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor, who led four other pathologists in conducting the post-mortem examination, is also among the witnesses lined up to testify.

Murder charges

The prosecution of murder suspect Wairimu is likely to commence next month. On Friday, Wairimu appeared before the Kibera High Court, where the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) indicated its intention to charge her with Cohen’s murder.

“The court is hereby informed by the DPP on behalf of the Republic that the above-named accused person (Wairimu) is charged with the following offence – murder, contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code, Cap 63 Laws of Kenya,” reads the statement of charge.

The couple.

The statement, filed by the head of homicide prosecutions at the ODPP, Gikui Gichuhi, states that Wairimu will be charged with Cohen’s murder, which allegedly occurred on the night of 19–20 July 2019 at the Lower Kabete area in Nairobi, in collaboration with others not before the court.

The ODPP, through Senior Assistant DPP Vincent Monda, made an application for the suspect to undergo a mental assessment before being charged. However, her lawyers opposed the application.