Troubled paradise: Former housekeeper lifts lid on Cohen's bitter marital woes

Former Tob Cohen housekeeper Chrispinus Shihemi testifies before Justice Diana Kavedza. [Nancy Gitonga, Standard]

It began like many love stories, with two people choosing each other, exchanging vows and building a home.

But for Dutch billionaire Tob Cohen and Sarah Wairimu, the promise of love would slowly give way to quarrels, accusations, a divorce case filed in January 2019, bitter property disputes and, ultimately, a tragic death that left a nation asking: what really happened?

Behind the gates of their upmarket Kitisuru home, the relationship between the Dutch businessman and Wairimu was, according to a former employee, becoming increasingly strained.

Now, gripping testimony before the High Court on September 28, 2026, has opened a window into the final months of their marriage, with a former housekeeper describing bitter disagreements, forced access to a safe containing documents, an alleged violent confrontation, divorce proceedings and the initial explanation given about Cohen’s whereabouts.

Chrispinus Shihemi, who worked first as a gardener and later as a housekeeper at the couple’s residence, told Justice Diana Kavedza that he met Cohen after being employed by Wairimu in November 2018.

Led in evidence by State prosecutors Sarah Ngweno and Christine Timoi, the witness said he began work at Wairimu’s residence on November 7, 2018, and was given Sh3,000 in advance under a verbal agreement of Sh12,000 a month.

Days later, he saw Wairimu talking to an elderly white man, whom she later introduced as Cohen.

He said that, at first, Cohen was a good employer, but he later discovered that the businessman was a heavy drinker and smoker. Shihemi said Cohen consumed different types of alcohol and smoked cigarettes.

But it was the couple’s deteriorating relationship that would leave the deepest impression on him.

He told the court that days after joining the household, he was informed that the family was preparing for the wedding of Wairimu’s daughter to a foreigner who lived abroad.

The wedding was scheduled for December 22, 2018, at the residence and was to include both a traditional ceremony and a private Christian service.

He told the court that it was during the ceremony that he noticed the couple appeared unhappy and seemed to be having differences.

Two days later, on Christmas Eve, Wairimu travelled with her daughter and visitors from abroad, while Cohen remained behind.

Safe dispute

The witness said the first open clash he witnessed involved a safe in the master bedroom, shortly after Wairimu and her daughters left for a holiday within the country.

He told the court that Cohen called and instructed him to carry the safe outside and open it. Shihemi refused to break it open.

Cohen, according to the witness, became angry and told him that from that day he would be paid by Wairimu because he had disobeyed him.

The safe was eventually moved outside with the help of another employee, Sammy.

Sarah Wairimu Kamotho, charged with the murder of her late husband, Tob Cohen. [Nancy Gitonga, Standard]

Shihemi said he again refused to break into it, prompting Cohen to call another man. The stranger arrived with a drill, opened the safe and was allegedly paid Sh20,000. Shihemi said he heard Cohen declare: “I got what I wanted.”

The businessman then entered the house carrying documents.

He later reported the incident to Wairimu, who allegedly told him she had the code to the safe and suggested that Cohen wanted to obtain land documents to sell property.

The court heard that Wairimu then instructed Shihemi and Sammy to access the main house, retrieve the documents recovered from the safe and hide them for her.

Moments later, two men who identified themselves as police officers from Spring Valley Police Station arrived and arrested Shihemi for allegedly failing to obey his boss’s orders to break open the safe.

He said he was taken to the station, where Wairimu arrived at about 10 pm and tried to secure his release.

He was released on free bond on Christmas Day and ordered to report to the police three days later.

On December 28, Shihemi honoured the summons and Wairimu also attended as statements were recorded, although Cohen, the complainant, did not appear.

He was informed that he had been arrested over an alleged disturbance at Cohen’s house and was later dismissed from his work.

The property documents, which included title deeds to multi-million-shilling properties in the Kitisuru home and other assets, would later become central to the unfolding dispute between the couple.

Divorce battle

Amid the deteriorating relationship, Cohen had also embarked on a legal battle to end the marriage.

By early 2019, the strain in their marriage had escalated into divorce proceedings, with Cohen filing a divorce case against Wairimu.

Court papers later showed that the couple’s separation was intertwined with disputes over property, allegations of cruelty and ownership of their matrimonial home.

In court, the witness said he was later re-hired by Wairimu in January 2019, but when he returned to Cohen’s residence, he noticed that the couple were no longer living like a happy married pair.

He said there were disagreements and that their relationship became increasingly hostile.

Even their meals became a source of tension. According to Shihemi, Wairimu complained that Cohen no longer ate her cooking, with the Dutchman instead buying or preparing his own meals.

The witness said that by then, the atmosphere inside the home had changed considerably.

Shihemi told the court that employees later received a letter from Cohen’s lawyers concerning divorce proceedings he had filed in the Family Court.

They did not open the letter after being told it related to the divorce proceedings between the couple.

The divorce papers added another layer to a marriage already troubled by disagreements over property and alleged violence.

Shihemi also described a confrontation on February 8, 2019, when, at about 10 pm, he heard Cohen shouting, “you are killing me” several times.

He went to find out what was happening and saw Cohen lying on the floor near the stairs, with Wairimu holding a chair over him. Wairimu told him not to come closer to rescue Cohen.

The old man was bleeding and drunk. During the confrontation, Cohen pulled Wairimu’s dress, which tore, leaving her in only her underwear.

When Cohen got up, he asked Shihemi to photograph his injuries using the Dutchman’s phone. Shihemi said the camera was not clear. Wairimu shouted at him not to take any photographs.

The witness said Cohen later accused him of failing to intervene when Wairimu was allegedly assaulting him.

“Stupid... You did not help me when Sarah was beating me,” Cohen allegedly told him.

The incident was one of the most dramatic episodes described by the former employee. The relationship continued to deteriorate.

On March 27, 2019, Cohen drafted a letter directing Shihemi to leave immediately, or he would call the police. The witness signed the letter, was paid his full salary and left.

Months later, Wairimu called him to return to work in late July 2019.

By then, according to Shihemi, she told him that she and Cohen had resolved their differences, that elders had spoken to the businessman and that he had acknowledged his mistakes. She also told him that her husband had travelled abroad for treatment.

He told the court that he believed her account and resumed work the following Monday, a few days after Cohen had been murdered and his body allegedly dumped in a septic tank.

On his return, he said the house appeared to support that version. Several of Cohen’s clothes and shoes were missing, as was a red briefcase.

Shihemi said the remaining belongings appeared arranged in a manner that made it look as though Cohen had travelled.

But the residence itself looked different. He described torn seats and changes around the house that surprised him.

In Cohen’s bedroom, he found the bed was not properly made and the mattress only had its cover.

He said Wairimu appeared restless, while police officers visited the home in cars and on foot, but were told not to open the gate for them.

Four days later, Shihemi attended the burial of a close relative. While away, a friend informed him that Cohen’s body had been found in a septic tank at his own home.

Shihemi also revealed that after Wairimu was arrested, he received a strange call from her asking him to return to the residence and take care of it under the guidance of a woman known as Carol because she was in custody.

He confirmed to the court that he declined the request.

Police evidence

The former employee’s account was followed by testimony from two police officers, who told the court that Cohen had reported incidents involving Wairimu before his death.

Testifying before Justice Kavedza, Makueni Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer (SCCIO) Joseph Maina said police went to the home on July 19, 2019, after Cohen reported that Wairimu had assaulted him.

Then stationed at Parklands Police Station, Maina said he accompanied four officers to arrest her.

“We met Cohen, who had dressed in blue jeans, a shirt and a coat,” he recounted.

Cohen directed them to Wairimu’s bedroom, which was locked from inside.

“I personally tried to knock on the door and Sarah declined to open,” Maina testified.

Another officer, Police Constable Stanley Kanyile, told the court that officers responding to a distress call on the same day found Cohen with three men whom he identified as relatives.

Kanyile said Wairimu was inside the house and acknowledged that she and Cohen had a domestic dispute.

“One lady who had locked herself inside the house confirmed to have domestic issues with Cohen. She was communicating through the window,” he told the court.

Kanyile said Cohen told police he had been assaulted by Wairimu and had reported the matter at Parklands Police Station.

The officers were informed that Wairimu had also made a counter-report at Gigiri Police Station.

Forensic evidence

The prosecution presented forensic evidence in the case, with Assistant Superintendent of Police Beneutychus Wanjohi, a forensic expert specialising in imaging and acoustics, producing digital photographs documenting the crime scene and the compound where Cohen’s body was recovered.

The images were admitted as exhibits to assist the court in visualising the scene and the prosecution’s forensic case.

Earlier proceedings also saw homicide detectives present video footage relating to the discovery of Cohen’s body.

The case has additionally involved a court-supervised visit to the Kitisuru residence, with Wairimu allowed access to the property to collect personal documents relevant to her defence.

What began with love, marriage and a shared home had, by the time Cohen disappeared, become a relationship marked by disputes that had spilt into the workplace, police station and court.

The prosecution alleges that Cohen was killed before his body was discovered in an underground water tank at his Kitisuru property.

Wairimu has denied the murder charge.

TOB COHEN CASE

November 7, 2018: Former housekeeper Chrispinus Chehemi began working at the Kitisuru residence.

December 2018: Shihemi said he witnessed tensions between Cohen and Wairimu, including a dispute over a safe containing property documents.

January 2019: Cohen filed divorce proceedings against Wairimu amid disputes over property and allegations of cruelty.

February 8, 2019: Shihemi testified that he witnessed a confrontation in which Cohen was allegedly assaulted and sustained injuries.

March 27, 2019: Cohen directed Shihemi to leave the residence.

July 2019: Shihemi returned to work after Wairimu told him Cohen had travelled abroad for treatment.

July 19, 2019: Police officers testified that Cohen reported an alleged assault by Wairimu and that she made a counter-report.

Days later: Cohen was murdered, according to the prosecution, and his body was later discovered in a septic tank at his Kitisuru home.

September 28, 2026: Shihemi gave testimony before the High Court, describing the couple’s deteriorating relationship and events surrounding Cohen’s disappearance.

In court: The prosecution has presented witness and forensic evidence, including digital photographs and video footage relating to the residence and recovery of Cohen’s body.

Defence position: Sarah Wairimu has denied the murder charge.