The Kenya Commercial Bank revealed the next kin of the late Data Protection Head Rosemary Koech amid push and pull on who should bury her.
Her estranged husband Kevin Migwe Kimwatu, moved to court and obtained orders stopping the planned burial pending the hearing of the dispute.
The revelations were contained in a letter dated August 25 from the bank to the Lee Funeral Home prompting the release of the body for burial on Friday.
Her husband had wanted to take the body for the burial ceremonies.
The bank released a letter stating Judy Koech-Oyamo, the sister of the late Rosemary Chemutai Koech, and her son, Charles Migwe Kimwatu as her next of kin in employment records held by KCB Bank Kenya Limited.
The bank confirmed that the two are the persons listed in its records as the next of kin of Koech, who died on August 21, 2026 in Ngong, Kajiado County.
In a letter issued by KCB’s Head of Shared Services, Risk, Compliance and Governance, Robley Ngoje, the bank said Koech was an employee of KCB Bank Kenya Limited and served as Head of Data Protection within the Risk Division until her death.
The bank said Koech-Oyamo and Kimwatu may liaise with the funeral home concerning the release, collection and burial arrangements for the deceased.
The confirmation was issued specifically to facilitate funeral and mortuary arrangements.
However, KCB cautioned that being recorded as next of kin did not automatically make the two legal representatives of Koech’s estate or confer entitlement to her property and benefits.
The bank said the letter should not be interpreted as confirmation of legal representation of the estate or entitlement to terminal dues, insurance benefits, pension benefits or any other assets belonging to the deceased.
“Such matters shall be dealt with upon presentation of the appropriate legal documentation, including letters of administration, grant of probate or other documents required by law,” the bank said.
The clarification is significant because next-of-kin details contained in employment records primarily serve administrative and contact purposes and do not, on their own, determine who has the legal authority to administer or inherit a deceased person’s estate.
KCB asked the funeral home to extend the necessary assistance to the family as they make arrangements following Koech’s death.
Koech held a senior role in KCB’s Risk Division, serving as the bank’s Head of Data Protection until her death.
Her position placed her within a critical function responsible for data protection matters at the financial institution.
The bank’s confirmation was limited to her employment status and next-of-kin information and did not address the administration or distribution of her estate.
She was set for burial in Uasin Gishu as her husband also planned for the same.
An autopsy on the body of Koech confirmed that the a 40-year-old executive who was found dead at a house in Ngong, Kajiado County, died by suicide.
The examination was conducted at Lee Funeral Home by Chief Government Pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor and was attended by detectives and the family.
Koech had been experiencing marital difficulties before her death, with her family alleging that she had been involved in prolonged domestic and financial disagreements with her husband.
The family also confirmed the bank supported her throughout her challenges.
“We as the parents of Rosemary Koech have no doubts in our minds that KCB accorded Rosemary all the necessary space and support to thrive and be the best she could in her career ladder.
In sickness and at her demise, KCB stood with the family and came through where help was required.
We are forever grateful. Whatever narratives are going on does not represent the family stand and we wish to be allowed to mourn our dear child in peace,” the family said in a statement.
The couple had been married for more than 20 years and had four children.
The family had initially lived together in a house at Memusi in Matasia, located within the ancestral compound of the husband’s parents. However, according to the deceased’s mother the marriage had become strained.
Koech’s mother told investigators that her son-in-law had at one point complained that his wife had started drinking and had fallen into what he considered bad company.
He allegedly told the deceased’s mother that he intended to send his wife and children back to her parents, asking them to counsel her before he could consider accepting her back into the marriage.
The deceased, however, reportedly gave her parents a different account of the marital problems.
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