Sarah Wairimu Kamotho was on Friday, January 24, 2025, presented at the Kibera Law Courts to face renewed murder charges in connection with her late husband Tob Chichou Cohen’s death.

This is after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) through a press statement dated January 23, 2025, revealed the discovery of overwhelming evidence linking Wairimu to the murder of her late husband Tob Cohen.

ODPP then reviewed the murder file of the case she was previously charged with and directed that she be charged afresh with murder contrary to Section 203 as read with 204 of the Penal Code.

“The Director of Public Prosecutions, (DPP) today directed Sarah Kohen Wairimu be charged with murder contrary to Section 203 as read with 204 of the Penal Code. This is after overwhelming evidence shows Ms Wairimu murdered her husband namely Tob Chichou Cohen on the night of 19th and 20th July 2019 at Lower Kabete Area, within Nairobi County,” ODPP said.

During the court proceedings held on January 24, 2025, the court directed that Wairimu be remanded in Lang’ata Women’s Prison till January 29, 2025, ahead of 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 the court to facilitate a mental assessment for Sarah Wairimu Kamotho before she pleads to a murder charge.

Tob Cohen’s death

Wairimu was first arrested in 2019 after Cohen’s body was discovered in a septic tank within their Kitisuru home.

She was initially charged with his murder, but the case was later dropped in favour of an inquest.

In 2022, The former DPP Noordin Haji dropped the murder charge and recommended the matter be registered as an inquest, attributing the decision to several 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 an inquest into the murder, which was granted. Upon independent and thorough review of the new material, the DPP is satisfied that Ms Wairimu was involved in the death of Tob Cohen,” ODPP said.