Kenya, renowned for its stunning landscapes, rich wildlife, and vibrant culture, has also had its share of tragic incidences that made both local and global headlines. Among them are horrific cases of foreigners who met their untimely deaths under very mysterious conditions in the country.
Ranging from inexplicable disappearances to gruesome deaths that sent shock waves of outright horror, the tales highlight how complicated security issues are in Kenya. The following are five chilling incidents that lingered in the memory and elicited global outrage:
Tob Cohen
Missing Dutch businessman Tob Cohen was found dead in a septic tank in his Kitisuru home, Nairobi, in September 2019. His wife, Sarah Wairimu, had been arrested after he disappeared and was originally accused of murdering him.
Former Director at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti termed the murder a premeditated act where Cohen was restrained prior to his death and stashed away in the tank.
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The case had several turns and twists throughout the years, including a 2022 withdrawal of murder charges in favour of an inquest. However, in January 2025, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) considered new evidence introduced by the DCI and reopened murder charges against Wairimu.
She was re-arrested on 23 January 2025, and remains in custody at Lang'ata Women's Prison awaiting further action in court.
Arshad Sharif
Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif, who had fled his home country in July 2022, was shot dead by Kenyan police in Kajiado in October of the same year.
The government had initially explained it as a case of mistaken identity. But the High Court in Kajiado in July 2024 ruled that the application of lethal force was unlawful and ordered the Kenyan government to compensate the family of Sharif with KSh 10 million.
The court further directed the state to complete investigations and act against the perpetrators.
John Middleton
British national John Middleton, a 75-year-old retired referee and avid golfer, was killed at his home in Utange, Mombasa, in October 2024.
His body was discovered in a bathtub with serious lacerations and a machete lying close to it. As reported, little struggle ensued and nothing was stolen, and therefore the police inferred that the killer was not motivated by robbery. Middleton had prior to his murder reported an attempt to poison his dogs, leading to speculations of a planned attack
Middleton, who was a member of the Nyali Golf & Country Club for many years, was scheduled to attend a golf tournament on the day he died but failed to show up, prompting his friends to raise an eyebrow. His body was discovered by his housekeeper. The incident is under investigation.
Bishop Luigi Locati
Italian missionary Bishop Luigi Locati, serving in Isiolo, Kenya, was assassinated in his residence on July 14, 2005. He was rushed to Isiolo District Hospital but was declared dead soon after.
A court found Catholic priest Father Guyo Waqo Malley and four others guilty of plotting the killing to seize church money. They were sentenced to death, and a sixth suspect was acquitted. The verdict highlighted the premeditated nature of the crime and financial motives.
Julie Ward
British wildlife photographer Julie Ward was murdered in Kenya in 1988 on a photography expedition to the Maasai Mara. She had traveled into the country in February and was last seen on September 6, one week before she was due to fly home. Her father, John Ward, traveled to Kenya to search for her and discovered her body in the Maasai Mara, which confirmed she had been killed violently.
More than 30 years on, it still remains unclear who murdered her. There have been many inquiries and trials but no one was ever brought to justice. There have been suggestions of a conspiracy and conflicting statements that have merely added to the intrigue of the case.
Despite all these years, Julie's family continues to search for answers. They continue to hope that new efforts or fresh leads may ultimately bring closure and justice to Julie's case.
