The burial of KCB Bank executive Rosemary Chemutai Kimwatu has brought a painful family dispute into the public eye, with questions now expected to be addressed in court.
Rosemary, who was 40 years old, died on August 21, 2026. She worked at KCB Bank as Head of Data Protection in the Risk Division. Following her death, her remains were taken to Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi as members of her family disagreed over where she should be laid to rest.
Her husband, Kevin Migwe Kimwatu, also referred to in some reports as Kevin Kimati, moved to the Milimani Commercial Magistrate’s Court in an attempt to stop burial plans that he said excluded him.
Kevin told the court that he married Rosemary in 2013 and that they had four children together. He acknowledged that their marriage had experienced difficulties and that they had lived separately for about four months.
However, he said they had begun repairing their relationship before Rosemary died.He wanted Rosemary to be buried at their ancestral home in Matasia, Ngong, Kajiado County.
According to his court application, he had already made preparations for the burial there. He also expressed concern that Rosemary’s parents and sister were planning to take her body to Kericho County for burial without involving him.
On Friday, August 28, Senior Principal Magistrate Agnes Mwangi issued interim orders barring the family, KCB Bank and other parties from removing Rosemary’s body from the funeral home or proceeding with burial without Kevin’s involvement and consent.
The court also directed that funeral arrangements should not be made without him until the matter was heard. The case was scheduled for mention on August 31.
The dispute was further complicated by a letter from KCB Bank dated August 25. The bank identified Rosemary’s sister, Judy Koech-Oyamo, and her son, Charles Migwe Kimwatu, as the next of kin recorded in its employment records. The letter allowed them to handle the release of her body and burial arrangements.
Kevin challenged his exclusion, arguing that he was Rosemary’s husband and should have been involved in decisions concerning her burial.
Despite the orders, Rosemary was buried yesterday, reportedly during the night. Kevin had obtained the court papers, but they were not served on the family in time.
The family proceeded with the burial before receiving official notice of the orders.
The circumstances have left the family dispute unresolved, with attention now turning to the court proceedings and any further legal action that may follow.
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