The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on Thursday, January 23 directed Sarah Cohen Wairimu, the widow of the late Tob Cohen, be charged with murder contrary to Section 203 as read with 204 of the Penal Code.

This is after overwhelming evidence showed Wairimu murdered her husband on the night of 19th and 20th July 2019 at Lower Kabete Area, within Nairobi County.

Wairimu’s impending arraignment follows her arrest on 23rd January 2025, which came after the DPP received new material in relation to the Dutch tycoon’s death from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

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,” the ODPP says.

The ODPP adds: “The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions remains committed to executing its mandate as per the rule of law, with due regard to public interest, administration of justice, and prevention of abuse of legal process.”

The High Court in December 2022 accepted the withdrawal of murder charges against Sarah Wairimu.

In a ruling, Justice Daniel Ogembo determined that then-DPP Noordin Haji was free to file an inquest. Justice Ogembo granted the DPP’s withdrawal application and released Wairimu and her co-accused Peter Karanja.

In his ruling, he stated that he was not persuaded by the victim’s arguments for the DPP’s withdrawal application. Cohen’s sister, Gabriele Van Straten, had protested the case’s withdrawal.

This came after DPP justified his decision to withdraw murder charges against Wairimu, claiming that he reviewed the murder file and advised that the case be classified as an inquest rather than murder.