Tob Cohen Told Friend ‘Tell Them It Is Sarah’ Before His Death, Court Hears

Former MP Patrick Muiruri told the High Court on Monday, October 12, 2026, that Dutch businessman Tob Cohen expressed grave fears for his safety days before his death.

The high-profile case centers on the murder of Tob Cohen, whose body was discovered in an underground water tank at his Nairobi compound in September 2019, weeks after family members reported him missing.

Testifying before Lady Justice Diana Rachel Kavedza, the former Gatundu North MP Patrick Muiruri recalled a chilling warning allegedly made by Cohen during their final phone call.

“If anything bad happens to me, or I am found dead somewhere, tell them it is Sarah,” Muiruri testified.

Muiruri, a close friend of Cohen for 30 years, took the stand as the murder trial against Sarah Wairimu Kamotho resumed. The prosecution, led by Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Vincent Monda, called three witnesses to build its case against Wairimu, who faces murder charges connected to her husband’s death.

Marital Disputes and Distress Call

Muiruri testified that Cohen confided in him on July 15, 2019, regarding his intent to file for divorce. Cohen cited escalating marital friction, misappropriation of company funds, and the alleged theft of property documents.

Four days later, on July 19, 2019, Cohen reached out to Muiruri again, expressing hesitation and fear about returning to his matrimonial residence. That phone call marked their final conversation.

Muiruri also recalled a public confrontation between the couple during a wedding in December 2018. He testified that Wairimu interrupted her husband and addressed him directly:

“This is not your house.”

Property Inquiries and Forensic Evidence

The prosecution also presented testimony from Mary Mutisya, a law firm clerk. Mutisya told the court that Wairimu requested a search of land records associated with Cohen’s property. She noted that Wairimu sent mobile money payments via M-Pesa to follow up on an application to withdraw a caveat registered against the land.

Shortly afterward, Mutisya learned through news reports that Cohen was missing.

Government analyst John Mungai testified as the prosecution’s third witness. Mungai submitted several physical exhibits into evidence:

• Clothing belonging to the late businessman
• A curtain retrieved from inside the underground water tank where authorities discovered the body
• A yellow polythene bag that covered the body upon recovery
• A red robe recovered from the property

The High Court scheduled the hearing to resume on October 14, 2026, as state prosecutors continue calling witnesses.

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