NAIROBI, Kenya- Kevin Migwe Kimwatu, the husband of late KCB executive Rosemary Chemutai Koech, has broken his silence over a dispute surrounding the burial arrangements of his wife.
Kimwatu moved to the Milimani Chief Magistrate’s Court on August 26, seeking to stop burial arrangements that he says were being made without his involvement. A court subsequently issued interim orders blocking the removal and burial of Rosemary’s remains without his involvement.
In court documents, Kimwatu said he and Rosemary had been married since August 24, 2013, and described their relationship as one characterised by love, companionship and mutual support.
He, however, acknowledged that the marriage had faced challenges and disclosed that the couple had separated for about four months before her death.
According to Kimwatu’s statement, the separation did not end their relationship, and he said Rosemary had expressed a desire to return to their matrimonial home.
He said he agreed and was prepared to take her back.
The court dispute arose after Kimwatu discovered that he had not been included in arrangements for the release and burial of Rosemary’s body.
He is seeking orders recognising his involvement in the burial arrangements and wants his late wife to be buried at Matasia in Kajiado County.
KCB next-of-kin records
The dispute has also brought attention to KCB records concerning Rosemary’s listed next of kin.
A letter from the bank dated August 25 identified Rosemary’s sister, Judy Koech-Oyamo, and her son, Charles Migwe Kimwatu, as the people recorded in its employment records as her next of kin for funeral and mortuary arrangements.
The bank clarified that the letter was specifically meant to facilitate funeral and mortuary arrangements and did not determine who was legally entitled to administer Rosemary’s estate, pension, insurance benefits or other assets.
Kimwatu has challenged the involvement of the bank in determining who should oversee the funeral arrangements, arguing that such decisions are a family matter.
Court halts burial
Senior Principal Magistrate Agnes Mwangi on Friday, August 28, issued interim orders restraining KCB, its employees and Rosemary’s family from removing her remains from Lee Funeral Home or proceeding with the burial without Kimwatu’s involvement.
The court’s intervention has temporarily paused the burial as the parties await further proceedings.
Rosemary, who was aged 40, was the Head of Data Protection at KCB Bank Group. She died on August 21, 2026, at her home in Ngong.
Her death has drawn widespread attention across Kenya’s legal, technology and corporate sectors.
The circumstances surrounding her death have also been the subject of investigation, with a post-mortem examination reported to have established the cause of death.
Authorities have continued examining the circumstances surrounding her final days.
