Tob Cohen Murder Case: MP Martha Wangari’s Estranged Husband Peter Karanja Freed on Sh4 Million Bond

Murder suspect Peter Karanja was on Tuesday released on bond after spending more than 30 days in remand.

Karanja, who is accused of killing Dutch tycoon Tob Cohen, was freed on a cash bail of Sh2 million or an alternative bond of Sh4 million with two sureties of Sh2 million each.

The prosecution had asked the court not to grant the accused bail on the grounds that he would interfere with witnesses and that he has no fixed abode.

In his ruling on Tuesday, High Court Judge Daniel Ogembo indicated that the prosecution failed to table any evidence to prove the accused would interfere with witnesses.

The judge, however, warned Karanja against communicating with any witnesses in the case or Cohen’s family members.

“The offense which the accused is alleged to have committed is serious. It attracts a death sentence upon conviction. However, Article 49 of the Constitution allows courts to admit suspects on bond regardless of the charge against them,” Justice Ogembo ruled.

Karanja, who is the estranged husband of Gilgil MP Martha Wangari, was also prohibited from going back to Cohen’s house unless with the express permission of the court. He was also ordered to deposit his passport in court.

Karanja and Cohen’s widow, Sarah Wairimu are accused of killing the Dutch national on July 19-20th, 2019 within Nairobi. 

Cohen, who had lived in Kenya for 32 years, was found dead on September 13th, eight weeks after he went missing. His decomposed body was retrieved from an underground water tank at his palatial residence in Nairobi’s Kitisuru area. 

Wairimu and Karanja pleaded not guilty to the charges and their cases are set to be consolidated. The merged case will be mentioned before Justice Stellah Mutuku on November 12th, 2019.