The long-running murder trial surrounding the death of Dutch businessman Tob Cohen entered another critical phase on Monday, with the Kibera High Court expected to review video footage showing the recovery of his body from a septic tank at his Lower Kabete home in September 2019.
Crime scene investigator Benutychus Wanjoji was scheduled to present the footage as part of the prosecution's evidence in a case that has remained one of Kenya's most closely watched criminal trials.
The video is expected to show police officers retrieving Cohen's decomposed body from the septic tank weeks after he had been reported missing.
Cohen's death shocked the country and attracted international attention due to the mysterious circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
The businessman, who was well known in Kenya's business circles, vanished in July 2019 before his remains were discovered nearly two months later within the compound of the residence he shared with his wife, Sarah Wairimu.
According to investigators, Cohen's body was found bound and concealed inside the septic tank. The discovery triggered an extensive murder investigation that eventually led to criminal charges against Wairimu and co-accused Peter Karanja.
Both have consistently denied any involvement in the killing and continue to maintain their innocence.
The trial has experienced numerous legal twists over the years. In 2022, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew murder charges against Wairimu, resulting in her release from custody.
At the time, the decision appeared to bring a temporary halt to one of the country's most publicized murder cases.
However, the matter resurfaced in January 2025 when Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga ordered the reinstatement of charges.
Wairimu was subsequently rearrested and returned to court to face trial once again. Since then, she has remained in remand custody as the case continues through the judicial process.
The prosecution has called several witnesses in an effort to strengthen its case. During previous hearings, prosecutors alleged that Wairimu gave investigators false or misleading information during the initial stages of the investigation into Cohen's disappearance. Witnesses presented by the state have also testified about alleged disagreements and incidents of conflict between Cohen and Wairimu before his death.
Prosecutors argue that these testimonies help establish the circumstances surrounding the businessman’s final days and support the broader case being presented before the court.
They have maintained that the evidence collected during the investigation points toward criminal responsibility on the part of the accused persons.
The defense, however, has strongly challenged those claims. Wairimu's legal team insists that the prosecution has failed to provide direct evidence linking her to the murder.
Her lawyers have repeatedly argued that much of the state's case is based on circumstantial evidence and assumptions rather than concrete proof.
Throughout the proceedings, the defense has sought various legal remedies, including attempts to halt the trial and applications seeking a mistrial.
Those efforts have so far been unsuccessful, with the court ruling that the proceedings should continue to allow all available evidence to be tested and examined.
The anticipated presentation of the recovery footage is expected to be a significant moment in the trial. Legal observers note that visual evidence can play an important role in helping the court understand the sequence of events surrounding a crime scene.
However, experts also point out that such evidence must be considered alongside witness testimony, forensic findings, and other materials already presented before the court.
As the trial continues, public interest in the case remains high. The circumstances surrounding Cohen's disappearance, the discovery of his body, and the years-long legal battle have kept the matter in the national spotlight.
With additional witnesses still expected to testify, the court's task will be to carefully evaluate all evidence presented by both the prosecution and defense before reaching a final verdict.
Until that determination is made, Wairimu and her co-accused remain innocent in the eyes of the law, with the burden resting on the prosecution to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.