Witness Michael Wainaina during the hearing of the murder case of Dutch businessman Tob Cohen at Kibera Law Courts in Nairobi yesterday /LEAH MUKANGAI
A waiter has told the Kibera High Court that Dutch businessman Tob Cohen left a Parklands bar alone before he disappeared.
Michael Wainaina, who worked at Plums Hotel in Parklands, testified before Justice Diana Kavedza that Cohen was a regular who usually left the entertainment spot between 12.30 am and 1 am, often in the company of Margaret Wanjiru.
On the night of July 19, 2019, Wainaina said he found Cohen “charming, joyful” around midnight.
Cohen sat at the counter and ordered a drink. Wanjiru joined him as usual, then left to dance. Two other women joined Cohen, and he bought them drinks.
When Wanjiru returned, she was upset and caused a scene. Cohen walked away, requested music and began to sing.
Wainaina told the court Cohen had said he did not want to see Wanjiru again. At about 1.45 am, as Cohen was leaving, Wanjiru caused another disturbance. She scratched the face of bouncer, Hillary, and tore his shirt.
Wainaina told the court; “She was drunk and violent not to Cohen, but to the bouncer only identified as Hillary... she scratched his face and tore his shirt, the buttons of his shirt came off.”
Cohen was helped and provided with security, then got into his car and left alone.
About 15 minutes later, Wanjiru came back and sat down. Wainaina said he later heard on television that Cohen was missing.
He later heard on the news that the Dutchman had been found dead at his compound. He described Cohen as “a quiet and humble man” who “would drink and go”.
Bartender Aggrey Ingano, who also worked at Plums Hotel, Parklands, corroborated the account. He said Cohen arrived and was joined by a woman.
Cohen sang and danced as he drank. After his second drink, he paid and told the bartender he was leaving and did not want to be followed by anyone. The bartender told the woman not to follow Cohen, but she did.
A bouncer tried to restrain her. Ingano said she was a regular at the bar. As he remained at the counter, he did not see any later altercation.
That was the last time he saw Cohen.
Following a prosecution request due to an absent witness, the hearing was adjourned.
Further hearing will continue tomorrow, October 1, at 10am, with four other witnesses expected to testify.
The testimony came during court hearing against Sarah Wairimu Cohen, who is accused of murdering her husband, Cohen, jointly with others not before the court, on the night of 19 and 20 July 2019.
Cohen, a former CEO of Philips Electronics East Africa, was reported missing on 19 July 2019.
His body was found in a septic tank at the couple’s Kitisuru home in September 2019.
Sarah was first arrested in 2019, but the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew the charges in 2022.
She was re-arrested in January 2025 and charged afresh after a case review uncovered what investigators described as new evidence.
She denied the murder charge and remains in custody after the court declined bail, citing concerns over witness intimidation, flight risk and interference with the scene of crime.
She has separately been charged with giving false information to a public officer.
