Tob Cohen Murder: First witness testifies at crime scene

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) described a toxic affair between deceased businessman Tob Cohen and his wife, Sarah Wairimu Cohen, as the murder trial began on Thursday.

In its opening statement, Gikui Gichuhi, Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecution, outlined the brutal circumstances surrounding Cohen’s death, emphasizing that the evidence would prove beyond doubt that Sarah is responsible for the murder of her husband.

"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," the prosecution declared.

The court was informed that Cohen was reported missing for 54 days before his lifeless body was discovered on September 13, 2019, in an underground water tank at his Kitisuru home.

The DPP described the relationship between the deceased and the accused as toxic and filled with ongoing conflict, which ultimately led to the fatal events of July 19, 2019—the last day Cohen was seen alive.

The prosecution further outlined its case, which will be built on forensic evidence, witness testimony, expert reports, and a variety of scientific findings, including DNA results, autopsy reports, cybercrime analysis, and entomology studies.

Additionally, the ODPP intends to show that the accused not only planned the murder but carried it out in a calculated and cold-blooded manner.

The state stressed that this case is not only about the tragic death of one man but also reflects a larger issue involving the silent and often overlooked abuse that men suffer at the hands of those they trust most.

Sarah, the widow, is charged with the murder of her husband on July 19, 2019.

During last month’s plea hearing, the DPP successfully opposed her bail application.

Wairimu was re-arrested in January 2025 after a review of the case revealed sufficient evidence to formally charge her with murder.

The first witness in the trial testified today at the crime scene before Justice Diana Kavedza, with the second witness scheduled to take the stand tomorrow, Friday, April 2025.