𝗜𝗳 𝗜 𝗗𝗶𝗲, 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗜𝘁 𝗜𝘀 𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗵: 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗣’𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝗯 𝗖𝗼𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗠𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹

A former MP has reportedly told the court that slain Dutch businessman Tob Cohen expressed fears for his life before his disappearance, allegedly warning that his wife, Sarah Wairimu, should be suspected if anything happened to him.

The testimony, attributed to Cohen’s close friend Patrick Muiruri, comes amid renewed scrutiny of a bitter marital and financial dispute involving a KSh400 million Kitisuru property, disputed company funds and an alleged attempt to remove a caveat days before Cohen went missing in September 2019.

Wairimu is charged with Cohen’s murder and has denied the allegations. The trial is ongoing, and the court has yet to determine her guilt.

Former MP Recalls Cohen’s Alleged Final Warning

Among the most striking claims attributed to Muiruri is that Cohen allegedly told him: “If anything bad happens to me, or I am found dead somewhere, tell them it is Sarah.”

The reported statement has drawn attention because it could provide context about Cohen’s state of mind before his death and the concerns he may have expressed to people close to him.

However, the statement is not, by itself, proof that Wairimu committed the murder. Its significance must be evaluated alongside the other evidence presented during the trial.

Alleged Attempt to Remove Kitisuru Property Caveat

A law firm clerk, Mary Mutisya, reportedly testified that Wairimu paid her through M-Pesa to conduct a land search and assist in removing a caveat registered against the couple’s Kitisuru home shortly before Cohen disappeared.

A caveat is a legal notice registered against property to protect an interest and may restrict certain dealings with the property, depending on the circumstances.

The restriction was reportedly intended to safeguard Cohen’s interest in the Kitisuru residence, which has been valued at approximately KSh400 million.

The timing of the alleged attempt to remove the caveat has become a significant part of the prosecution’s account of the events preceding Cohen’s disappearance.

Former MP Details Allegations Over Missing Title Documents

Muiruri reportedly told the court that Cohen had discovered that his land title documents were missing from a safe.

The former MP also reportedly recounted allegations that Wairimu had used funds from their jointly associated company, Kenya Gold Safaris, to finance the construction of a hotel in Nanyuki.

According to the testimony, the disputes contributed to Cohen’s decision to protect his interest in the Kitisuru property through a caveat.

These claims form part of the background to the prosecution’s case but should not be treated as independently established wrongdoing unless supported by the court’s findings.

Alleged Secret Will and Plans for Divorce

The court also heard claims about steps Cohen had allegedly taken to reorganise his affairs and pursue a separation from Wairimu before his disappearance.

According to the account attributed to Muiruri, Cohen had prepared a new will with lawyer Chege Kirundi. The proposed distribution reportedly allocated 50 per cent of his estate to his sister, Gabrielle, with the remaining share intended for his brother, nephew and niece.

Wairimu was reportedly excluded from the proposed distribution.

Cohen was also said to have been preparing for a contested divorce, citing alleged cruelty, missing title documents and the disputed use of company funds.

The prosecution’s theory is that the proposed divorce, the will and the caveat provide context for a possible property-related motive.

Whether these circumstances establish motive or connect Wairimu to the killing remains a matter for the court to determine.

Cohen’s Body Discovered at Kitisuru Home

Cohen disappeared in September 2019, and his body was later discovered concealed in an underground tank at the couple’s Kitisuru residence.

The circumstances surrounding his disappearance and the concealment of his body became central to the murder investigation.

Witnesses have also reportedly raised questions about statements allegedly made after he went missing, including claims that workers were instructed to say he had travelled abroad for medical treatment.

The evidential value of those allegations will depend on the testimony presented, its reliability and the court’s assessment of the wider case.

Does the Evidence Establish a Murder Motive?

The prosecution’s case, as reflected in the reported testimony, brings together several strands: the alleged property dispute, the attempt to remove the caveat, the proposed will and divorce, and Cohen’s reported warning to his friend.

Taken together, these matters may form part of a circumstantial case. However, establishing a possible motive does not automatically prove that a person committed murder.

The court must assess the credibility of witnesses, the admissibility and reliability of the evidence, any competing explanations and whether the prosecution has established every essential element of the charge beyond reasonable doubt.

Wairimu remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until she is found guilty by a court of law.

As the trial continues, the central question is whether the prosecution can establish a sufficient evidential link between the alleged disputes and Cohen’s death.

Channel 15 News — The Full Story First.