CHEPSEON, Kericho County — The family of late KCB executive Rosemary Koech Kimwatu has explained why they proceeded with her burial at their Chepseon home in Kericho County on Friday night despite a court order barring her interment without the involvement and consent of her husband, Kevin Migwe Kimwatu.
Rosemary, 40, who served as KCB Bank’s Head of Data Protection in the risk division, was found dead at her residence in the Ole Nairi area of Ngong on August 21. A post-mortem examination conducted by Chief Government Pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor established that she died by suicide.
Family Cites Kalenjin Cultural Practices
Speaking during Rosemary’s memorial service on Saturday, August 29, clan chairman Samwel Keter, who is also a relative, said the decision to bury her at night was informed by Kalenjin cultural practices.
Keter said family members had travelled to Nairobi to discuss the burial arrangements but eventually chose to follow traditions that, according to him, require a deceased person to be buried within a short period after death, particularly after a post-mortem examination.
“I was among those people who went to Nairobi and we had lengthy discussions. Kwa culture, mtu akipitia mahali alipitia kama hiyo, haifai akae hata siku tatu ama nne. Pia mtu akifanyiwa post-mortem kwa culture yetu, haistahili akae siku mbili kabla hajazikwa,” Keter stated.
He said the family also wanted to conduct traditional cleansing rituals associated with the circumstances surrounding Rosemary’s death.
“Kuna ile kamba alitumia, lazima tufanye cleansing. Lazima kuwe na mbuzi ambayo tuchinje, alafu tunaleta hiyo mafuta tunaweka, alafu tunafanya hiyo kazi,” Keter stated.
According to Keter, the family could not delay the burial because of the cultural obligations they believed needed to be fulfilled.
“We did it because of the Kalenjin culture. Specifically, to our clan, hatutaki kitu ambayo itaweza kutufuata,” he stated.
Why Rosemary Was Buried in Chepseon
Keter also explained the family’s decision to bury Rosemary at their Chepseon home, saying they believed she had a right to be laid to rest on her family’s land.
“Hatuna shida na upande mwingine. Tuliuliza baba Chemu, tuliweka kwa shamba lake kwa sababu sisi tunajua kila mtoto ako na right ya kupata kitu katika boma la familia yake,” Keter stated.
He further explained that their cultural practices do not permit burials during the day, which was why Rosemary was buried late on Friday night.
“Katika Kalenjin, hatuwezi zika mtu mchana. Tunazika mtu kama saa imeenda, bora isipite saa sita ya usiku,” he stated.
Family Says It Has No Grudge Against Husband
Despite the dispute over Rosemary’s final resting place, Keter said the family had no disagreement with Kevin and continued to regard him as part of the family.
“Kevin, who’s the father to Chemu’s children, we have no grudge with him. The place where she’s resting belongs to her and by extension to the children, Kevin included. Ata kesho akija, akae na watoto, we have no issue. Kevin, you’re part and parcel of us,” he stated.
The family proceeded with the burial only hours after the Milimani Commercial Magistrate’s Court issued interim orders restraining the interment without Kevin’s involvement and consent.
The court orders followed a dispute over Rosemary’s final resting place, with her parents preferring their Chepseon home while Kevin wanted her buried at his ancestral home in Matasia, Ngong, Kajiado County.
The matter is expected to return to court on Monday, August 31, when the parties are expected to address the circumstances surrounding the burial and the interim orders issued by the court.
