KCB Next-of-kin Letter Sparks Burial Dispute as Court Blocks Rosemary Kimwatu’s Burial
Rosemary Kimwatu
A dispute over the funeral arrangements of late KCB Bank employee Rosemary Kimwatu has escalated to court after her husband, Kevin Migwe Kimwatu, moved to stop her burial.
The dispute emerged after KCB Bank Kenya Limited informed Lee Funeral Home that its employment records identified Rosemary’s sister, Judy Koech-Oyamo, and her son, Charles Migwe Kimwatu, as her next of kin.
In a letter dated August 25, 2026, and addressed to the manager of Lee Funeral Home, KCB confirmed that Rosemary, Staff No. KEN21115, was an employee of the bank and served as Head of Data Protection within its Risk Division until her death on August 21, 2026.
The bank stated that, according to employment records and the next-of-kin information provided by Rosemary, Judy Koech-Oyamo was listed as her sister while Charles Migwe Kimwatu was listed as her son.
KCB further stated that the two individuals could liaise with Lee Funeral Home regarding the release, collection and/or burial arrangements for Rosemary.
However, the bank was careful to clarify that its letter was issued strictly to facilitate funeral and mortuary arrangements and did not amount to confirmation of legal representation of Rosemary’s estate or entitlement to her terminal dues, insurance, pension or other assets.
It said such matters would be dealt with upon presentation of appropriate legal documentation, including letters of administration, a grant of probate or other documents required by law.
The development appears to have prompted Kevin Migwe Kimwatu to seek the intervention of the court over the planned burial.
On Friday, August 28, 2026, the Milimani Commercial Magistrate Court certified his application as urgent and issued interim orders restraining the respondents from removing Rosemary’s remains from Lee Funeral Home.
The court also barred the respondents, their relatives, agents, servants and employees from burying Rosemary without Kevin’s consent or involvement.
A further order restrained the respondents from making funeral arrangements or proceeding with the burial without Kevin’s involvement pending the inter partes hearing of the application.
The case, Kevin Migwe Kimwatu versus KCB Bank Kenya Limited, Paul Kipkorir Koech and three others, is before Hon. Agnes Mwangi, Senior Principal Magistrate.
The respondents have been directed to be served with the application, with the matter set for mention on August 31, 2026, for further directions.
The court warned that disobedience or non-observance of its orders would attract penal consequences.
The court order refers to the deceased as Rosemary Chemutai Kimwatu, while KCB’s August 25 letter identifies her as Rosemary Chemutai Koech. The documents therefore use different surnames for the deceased.
The KCB letter establishes who the bank had recorded as Rosemary’s next of kin in its employment records, while the court order establishes that the question of who should be involved in her burial arrangements is now the subject of ongoing court proceedings.
