Kenya High Court: Sarah Wairimu Kamotho Trial Housekeeper Testimony Details Assault

• Former housekeeper Chrispinus Shihemi testified in the Tob Cohen murder trial, detailing an alleged assault by Sarah Wairimu Kamotho on Cohen in February 2019.
• Shihemi recounted Cohen crying "You are killing me" during the alleged incident, after which Cohen was seen bleeding from his head and face.
• After Cohen's reported disappearance, Shihemi observed significant changes at the residence, including damaged furniture, missing personal items, and extensive clearing.
• Police Constable Stanley Kanyile responded to a distress call at Cohen's home on July 19, 2019, encountering Ms. Kamotho and three men.
• Inspector Joseph Maina testified about an earlier police visit following Cohen's assault complaint against his wife, recorded under OB 37/19/7/19.

The ongoing Tob Cohen murder trial in Kenya recently heard compelling testimony from a former household employee, shedding light on alleged domestic tensions and events preceding the Dutch businessman's death. Chrispinus Shihemi, who served as a gardener and housekeeper for Tob Cohen and his wife, Sarah Wairimu Kamotho, appeared before Justice Diana Kavedza at the High Court in Kibera. His witness statement forms a crucial part of the prosecution's case against Ms. Kamotho, who stands accused of Cohen's murder, alongside others not yet identified, between July 19 and 20, 2019, in Nairobi.

Shihemi's account detailed a pattern of strained relations and a specific incident of alleged violence, offering the court a glimpse into the domestic environment of the couple months before Cohen's disappearance and subsequent discovery of his body. His testimony, alongside that of two police officers, aimed to establish a timeline of events and a context for the Kenya High Court criminal proceedings.

A significant portion of Shihemi's Sarah Wairimu Kamotho trial housekeeper testimony focused on an alleged violent confrontation he witnessed on February 8, 2019. He recounted hearing Cohen screaming outside their residence around 10 p.m. Upon rushing to the terrace, Shihemi stated he found Cohen on the ground near the stairs, with Ms. Kamotho allegedly holding a plastic chair over him. During this alleged assault, Cohen reportedly cried out, “You are killing me.”

Shihemi intervened, urging Ms. Kamotho to “stop that bad behaviour.” He observed Cohen bleeding from his head and face following the incident. Cohen then asked Shihemi to photograph his injuries, but Ms. Kamotho reportedly instructed the housekeeper not to do so. Later, Cohen allegedly confronted Shihemi, accusing him of failing to provide adequate assistance during the altercation, stating, “Stupid, you did not help me.” This incident highlights the Sarah Wairimu alleged assault Cohen aspect of the prosecution's evidence.

Beyond the specific alleged assault, Chrispinus Shihemi described a period of increasing friction within the household. He noted that Cohen had stopped consuming meals prepared in the home, opting instead to purchase takeaway food or prepare his own. This observation suggested a growing distrust and breakdown in the couple's domestic life.

Shihemi's employment with the couple concluded on March 27, 2019, when Cohen issued him a termination letter and paid him approximately Sh12,000 before instructing him to vacate the premises. This departure occurred just months before Cohen's disappearance, marking a significant point in the timeline presented by the prosecution.

Shihemi was recalled to the residence by Ms. Kamotho on July 21, 2019, shortly after the period identified in the murder charge. Ms. Kamotho informed him that she and Cohen had resolved their differences and that Cohen had traveled abroad for medical treatment. However, upon his return on July 22, Shihemi observed several unsettling changes. He noted damage to the terrace furniture, the master bedroom stripped of its bedding with only a mattress cover remaining, and the disappearance of Cohen's red briefcase, some shoes, and other personal belongings. Extensive clearing and slashing had also been carried out in the compound.

Shihemi further testified that Ms. Kamotho appeared agitated and instructed staff not to open the gate for police vehicles or officers. He later learned through news reports that Cohen was missing, and official records indicated he had not left the country. Cohen's body was subsequently discovered inside a water tank at his Kitisuru residence on September 13, 2019, nearly two months after his reported disappearance. Shihemi later provided a layout of the compound and recorded statements for DCI investigators concerning what he had witnessed.

The Justice Diana Kavedza murder case also heard from two police officers, Police Constable Stanley Kanyile and Inspector Joseph Maina, whose testimonies corroborated aspects of the unfolding events. Constable Kanyile recounted responding to a distress call on July 19, 2019, which led officers to Cohen's Spring Valley residence. There, they encountered Ms. Kamotho and three men in civilian attire, with Ms. Kamotho reporting she was in distress.

Inspector Maina, formerly the Officer Commanding Station at Parklands Police Station, provided details of an earlier police visit prompted by an assault complaint from Cohen. Maina testified that Cohen had reported being assaulted by his wife and directed officers to a room where she had allegedly locked herself. Despite their efforts, the officers received no response and returned to the station to initiate the procedure for issuing summons. This visit was officially recorded under Occurrence Book (OB) number 37/19/7/19, with the officers' return documented under OB 41/19/7/2019, further establishing a history of police involvement in the domestic disputes.

This update offers insights into the prosecution's evidentiary strategy in a high-profile Kenyan murder trial, showcasing the use of witness testimony regarding prior alleged violence and circumstantial observations to build a case. Criminal lawyers can analyze the presentation of such evidence and its potential impact on trial outcomes.

Source: Original reporting via Capital FM Kenya