The burial of the late Rosemary Chemutai Koech has been temporarily stopped after Kevin Migwe Kimatu went to court seeking orders to halt the funeral arrangements. The move came after Kevin discovered that he was not listed as Rosemary’s next of kin in records held by her employer.
Court papers indicate that Kevin moved quickly after learning about the details, leading to the court issuing a temporary order stopping the burial. The development has since attracted attention among people close to Rosemary, with questions being raised about the circumstances surrounding the dispute and the timing of the court action.
Rosemary was a professional at KCB Bank Kenya Limited, where she served as Head of Data Protection in the Risk Division. She held staff number KEN21115 and remained in the position until her death on August 21, 2026.
Following her death, KCB wrote to Lee Funeral Home to confirm the next-of-kin information that Rosemary had provided while she was alive. The letter was signed by Robley Ngoje, Head of Shared Services, Risk, Compliance and Governance.
According to the letter, the bank had two people listed as Rosemary’s next of kin. The first was Judy Koech-Oyamo, identified as her sister. The second was Charles Migwe Kimwatu, identified as her son.
The bank stated that the two individuals were authorised to handle the release of Rosemary’s body and make the necessary burial arrangements. It also made an important clarification that the letter was strictly for funeral and mortuary purposes.
KCB noted that the confirmation did not give either person rights over Rosemary’s estate, terminal dues, insurance payments or pension benefits. The bank further stated that any claims involving her estate would have to be supported by the appropriate legal documents, including letters of administration or a grant of probate.
Kevin’s name does not appear among the two people identified by the bank as Rosemary’s next of kin. After discovering this, he sought the court’s intervention, resulting in the temporary suspension of the planned burial.
The dispute has become particularly difficult for some people who knew Rosemary because of claims about her relationship with Kevin before her death.
Accounts from people familiar with the situation allege that Rosemary had experienced difficulties in the relationship and was eventually left living alone. These claims have added another layer of emotion to an already painful family situation.
Some people close to Rosemary have questioned why the burial has now become a legal dispute when her employer’s records clearly identify the people she had provided as her next of kin. Others believe the court process should be allowed to establish Kevin’s position and determine whether he has any legal claim in the matter.
The court order means Rosemary’s family cannot proceed with the burial as planned. The family remains in uncertainty as they wait for the legal process to determine who should be allowed to take charge of her final arrangements.
The bank’s records provide one part of the dispute, while the court will have to consider any claims made by Kevin and the evidence presented by all sides. Until the matter is resolved, the family and those close to Rosemary are left waiting to give her the final farewell.
