This archive report was first published on 23 September 2019.
Slain Dutch tycoon Tob Cohen will be laid to rest on Monday at the Jewish cemetery in Nairobi, following his wishes. His burial will be a closed family event, with his widow Sarah Wairimu seeking permission to attend.
Wairimu is currently remanded at the Lang'ata Women's Prison, awaiting trial for her alleged role in Cohen's murder. Her lawyer, Philip Murgor, has filed an application in court seeking orders to allow her to attend the funeral, which will be heard on Monday morning.
Cohen's body will be buried at the Jewish Community cemetery on Prof. Wangari Mathai Road, in accordance with Jewish tradition. The specific spot where he will be interred is marked 184, as per his instructions.
According to Jewish tradition, there will be no viewing of the body, and the ceremony will involve prayers, a eulogy, and chanting of prayers before the burial.
Reports indicate that Cohen's sister, Gabrielle, has already left the country, leaving behind her brother to represent the Dutch family.
On September 13, Cohen's body was discovered at his Kitusuru home, dumped in an underground water tank, after he had been missing for nearly two months. Wairimu was arrested in the course of the investigation, with the Director of Criminal Investigations, George Kinoti, stating that they had evidence linking her directly to the murder.
Wairimu initially claimed that Cohen might have traveled abroad for medical treatment, but Kinoti said her version of events did not add up, leading to her arrest.
On September 23, 2019, the prosecution presented Wairimu in court with a charge sheet on Cohen's murder, but she could not plead due to a lack of mental assessment.
Before she could undergo the assessment or take plea, Cohen's body was discovered at his home, leading to further complications in the case.
