Kenyan Detectives Baffled by Disappearance of Dutch Tycoon Tob Cohen

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Nyakundi Report

Newsroom 2 min read

Primary source Kenyan Digest archive

This archive report was first published on 9 August 2019.

On July 19, 2019, Dutch millionaire Tob Cohen, a former CEO of Phillips East Africa, vanished without a trace, leaving behind a tangled web of divorce and assault cases with his estranged wife, Sarah Wairimu Kamotho.

According to Sarah Wairimu, Cohen had taken a break to travel to Thailand for medical treatment, seeking to escape the pressure from lawyers demanding money.

However, detectives have found no evidence that Cohen left the country, contradicting Wairimu's claim.

Furthermore, detectives are puzzled by two letters, dated July 20, 2019, that purported to withdraw both the divorce and assault cases, sent to Cohen's lawyers just before his disappearance.

A letter to the Dutch Embassy, dated July 18, 2019, signed by Wairimu, alleged that Cohen suffered from depression and a mental condition, causing problems in their relationship.

While police claim there is no evidence to suggest foul play, they also admit that there is no evidence to rule out the possibility of foul play.

The case is being handled by the homicide section of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, with the Dutch Embassy in Nairobi showing interest.

Wairimu has been summoned by detectives to provide her side of the story.

"This letter and the two letters sent to Mr. Cohen's lawyers are important leads," a detective handling the case told Nation.

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