“Passport Lies?” – Sarah Wairimu Kamotho Faces New Charges Amid Murder Trial

Sarah Wairimu Kamotho, accused of murdering her husband Tob Cohen in 2019, faces new charges. On Friday, she was accused of giving false information to a police officer. She was also charged with swearing a false affidavit over her alleged lost passport. She denied the charges at Kibera Law Courts. Wairimu remains in Lang’ata Women’s Prison. She is already on trial for Cohen’s murder.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) said that on February 20, 2023, at Munyange Police Station in Othaya, Nyeri County, Wairimu “knowingly and maliciously gave false information” to Chief Inspector Mercy Riungu, the Officer Commanding Station. She claimed her passport was lost. The false report led police to issue a police abstract. Prosecutors say it was obtained fraudulently.

In a second count, Wairimu faced false swearing charges under Section 114 as read with Section 36 of the Penal Code. The DPP said she appeared the same day at Pamki House in Nyeri Town. She swore a false affidavit claiming her passport was lost, even though it was not.

The case adds to her mounting legal troubles. In June, the High Court scheduled her bail hearing. Her lawyer, Conrad Maloba, argued she was not a flight risk. He said she was willing to stand trial. But Justice Diana Kavedza had denied bail in February 2025. She cited risks of witness intimidation and interference. Wairimu allegedly intimidated a police officer three times during the trial. “The accused needs first to show remorse, which she has not done, before this court can vacate its orders,” the judge said.

The murder trial remains high-profile. Prosecutors have lined up 78 witnesses. They revealed Cohen’s body was found in a cemented underground water tank at his Kitisuru home. With the murder trial and these new charges, Wairimu faces a complex legal battle. Her next moves are closely watched by the media and the public.