The controversy around the death and custody of the body of Rosemary Chemutai Koech (also referred to as Rosemary Chemutai Kimwatu), a KCB senior manager, has deepened with her parents conducting the burial on Friday night.

Rosemary, who served as head of data protection in KCB's risk division, died on August 21 at the age of 40 at a house she lived in with her children in Ngong, Kajiado County, following a strained relationship with her husband, Kevin Migwe Kimwatu.

A Nairobi court had earlier on Friday temporarily stopped the burial and ordered Lee Funeral Home not to release the body pending the hearing and determination of a case filed by her husband.

A portrait of the late Rosemary Koech-Kimwatu is displayed during her memorial service at Nairobi Chapel, Ngong Road, Nairobi, on August 26, 2026.

Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation

Senior Principal Magistrate Agnes Mwangi of the Milimani Court in Nairobi issued interim orders on Friday restraining the family, Lee Funeral Home and KCB from moving the body of the deceased. She also barred the family from conducting the burial without the consent of the deceased's husband.

However, the burial was conducted at around 7.30pm at Chepseon village in Kipkelion East Constituency, Kericho County.

Also Read: 'Our marriage had challenges': KCB executive Rosemary Koech’s husband says as court halts funeral

The family, through clan chairman Samwel Keter, who is also a relative, explained on Saturday why.

“What's being circulated on social media is not true; they are just pushing an agenda. Our daughter died the way she did (by suicide), and in our culture, that means you are not supposed to stay unburied for more than three or four days.

"Also, when a post-mortem is conducted, a funeral has to happen within two days. We did whatever we did because of our culture so that something like that (suicide) will not happen again. Maybe that's why people are saying whatever they are saying. We did that according to the Kalenjin culture, not just Kipkendek (the name of the clan) culture,” Mr Keter told mourners.

Mr Joseph Towett Kalyasoi, a member of the Kipsigis Community Clans Organisation, told the Nation there is nothing wrong with burying a body after sunset.

“Bodies used to be buried at night among members of the Kipsigis community; that is why, in the current generation, the final ceremony is done late in the evening. It is an old-age tradition,” Mr Towett said.

Elders from the Myoot, the ancient name for the Kalenjin, explain on August 29, 2026, why they concluded that Rosemary Chemutai Koech should be buried on Friday night at their home in Chepsion, Kericho County.

Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi| Nation Media Group

Mr Towett said that in the event a parent insists on burying their daughter, who had been married off because of existing and unresolved differences with the spouse, they should return the dowry that was paid to them as a result of the marriage.

He said police investigations and post-mortems had complicated the traditional practice of conducting funerals promptly.

“There is nothing wrong with holding a service after one has been buried, as it is within the mourning window for the immediate family,” Mr Towett said.

It has also emerged that the body was moved from Nairobi to Kericho three days earlier as a tussle ensued between Rosemary's parents and her husband, Kevin Kimwatu, with whom she had a sour relationship and had lived separately before her death.

Flowers decorate the podium during the requiem Mass for Rosemary Chemutai Koech, held at their home in Chepsion in Kericho on August 29, 2026. Rosemary was buried on Friday night.

Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi| Nation Media Group

“Not even members of the funeral planning committee knew where exactly the body was until it was removed from the funeral home, to the shock of even close relatives,” a family member, who requested anonymity, told the Nation on Saturday.

Also Read: Rosemary Koech death: KCB declines to comment on work dynamics, Kenyans urged to be kind to family

Heavy police presence at the entrance to the homestead drew the attention of neighbours and passers-by as it emerged that close family members were conducting the burial rites.

On Saturday, relatives and friends converged at the homestead to offer their condolences in one of the most controversial deaths and burials in the country in recent times.

Mr Kimwatu moved to court seeking to bar her parents, Paul Kipkorir Koech and Beatrice Koech, her sister, Judy Koech-Oyamo, and KCB from removing the body from Lee Funeral Home and proceeding with the burial arrangements, which had been set for Saturday at Chepseon village, Kericho County.

Mr Kimwatu stated that he had been excluded from the burial arrangements being made by her parents despite being legally married to her, and that the couple had not divorced but lived separately, with reconciliation efforts ongoing.

It emerged from the court documents that the couple had their wedding at St Austin's Catholic Church in Nairobi on August 24, 2013, and were blessed with four children.

Flowers decorate the podium during the requiem Mass for Rosemary Chemutai Koech, held at their home in Chepsion in Kericho on August 29, 2026. Rosemary was buried yesterday (Friday) at night.

Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi| Nation Media Group

Mr Kimwatu admitted in court filings that the couple had a troubled marriage but said efforts were being made towards reconciliation and that they were constantly in touch by phone up to the date of her death.

“Our marriage was, throughout its existence, a happy, loving and harmonious union characterised by mutual affection, companionship and support. That, as is the case with any marriage, it experienced challenges and the vicissitudes of any married life from time to time.

“However, the same were never of such gravity, magnitude or persistence as to detract me from the overall love, joy and happiness that defined my union,” Mr Kimwatu stated in court filings.

Mr Kimwatu confirmed that they had been separated for four months and that by the time of her death, she had agreed to return to their matrimonial home.

He stated that, as the legally married husband, he had the right to proceed with the funeral arrangements and had wished to bury his deceased wife at his ancestral home in Matasia, Ngong, Kajiado County.

The case has been set for mention on August 31.

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