Sarah Wairimu Kamotho was presented at the Kibera Law Courts on Friday, January 24, 2025, to face renewed murder charges in connection with the death of her late husband, Tob Chichou Cohen.
This development follows a statement from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) dated January 23, 2025, which revealed the discovery of compelling evidence linking Wairimu to her husband’s murder.
The ODPP reviewed the murder case file, which she had previously been charged with, and instructed that she be charged anew with murder under Section 203, as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code.
“The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed that Sarah Kohen Wairimu be charged with murder contrary to Sections 203 and 204 of the Penal Code. This follows overwhelming evidence indicating that Ms Wairimu murdered her husband, Tob Chichou Cohen, on the night of July 19 and 20, 2019, at their home in Lower Kabete, Nairobi County,” the ODPP stated.
During the court proceedings on January 24, 2025, the court ordered that Wairimu be remanded at Lang’ata Women’s Prison until January 29, 2025, pending her plea ruling.
“The accused shall be remanded at Lang’ata Women’s Prison to allow time for a comprehensive ruling, and she will be presented before me in open court on January 29, 2025,” Lady Justice Diana Kavdeza announced.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had asked court to facilitate a mental assessment for Sarah Wairimu Kamotho before she pleads to a murder charge.
Tob Cohen’s murder
Wairimu was first arrested in 2019 after Cohen’s body was discovered in a septic tank at their Kitisuru home.
She was initially charged with his murder, but the case was later dismissed in favour of an inquest.
In 2022, former DPP Noordin Haji discontinued the murder charge and recommended that the matter be registered as an inquest, citing various investigative inconsistencies.
The ODPP’s statement on January 23, 2025, noted that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had gathered new evidence, prompting the prosecution to seek the termination of the inquest previously conducted by Haji into Cohen’s death.
“Consequently, the DPP made an application for the termination of the inquest into the murder, which was granted. After a thorough and independent review of the new evidence, the DPP is satisfied that Ms Wairimu was involved in the death of Tob Cohen,” the ODPP concluded.
