Rosemary Koech Kimwatu buried at night despite court order

Kenya Commercial Bank executive Rosemary Koech Kimwatu was buried on Friday night, August 28, 2026, despite a Nairobi court order restricting her burial without her husband Kevin Migwe Kimwatu's consent. The deceased, also known as Rosemary Kimwatu and TechWakili, was laid to rest in Chepseon, Kericho County, just hours after Senior Principal Magistrate Agnes Mwangi issued interim orders on the same day to prevent the removal and burial of her remains without her husband's involvement.

This ruling followed a dispute between Kimwatu and Kimwatu's family over her funeral arrangements. The case is set for mention on August 31, 2026. Koech's sister and son were listed as her next of kin in KCB's employment records, which sparked the dispute after she challenged the funeral arrangements. A memorial service was held on Saturday, August 29, 2026, for the late executive who served as Head of Data Protection at KCB Bank Group until her death on August 21, 2026.

Colleagues remembered her as a pioneer who made significant contributions to the fields of digital rights, privacy, and responsible use of personal data in Kenya. Koech, who left behind four children, has established the Rosemary Koech-Kimwatu Education Fund in her honor to support her children's education.