The Alliance for Human Rights Activists & Defenders for Justice and Accountability has called for an independent investigation into the death of KCB Bank Group Head of Data Protection Rosemary Koech-Kimwatu.
The group wants investigators to establish whether Koech-Kimwatu received instructions concerning records linked to a disputed Sh146.3 billion transaction before her death.
Koech-Kimwatu, 40, was found dead at her home 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, according to reports.
The Alliance's demand comes as KCB is embroiled in a court dispute with Foxcapital Investment Limited over approximately €978.7 million, equivalent to about Sh146.3 billion.
Foxcapital claims the money was transferred by Swiss-based Bay Bionics Limited through UBS Switzerland AG for investment in Kenya, including infrastructure bonds, public-private partnerships and renewable energy projects.
The company says the funds were transmitted to KCB on November 28, 2025, but were not credited to its account. Foxcapital has accused the bank of withholding the money and wants it released.
KCB has disputed the claim that it received or holds the funds, arguing that Foxcapital has not established that the money is in the bank's possession.
The dispute has since moved to the High Court, which has issued interim orders preserving the funds and barred KCB, its employees and agents from transferring, trading with, interfering with or otherwise dealing with the money pending further proceedings. The case is scheduled for further hearing on September 17.
It is against this background that the Alliance has raised questions about the preservation of records connected to the transaction.
The group says investigators should establish whether Koech-Kimwatu, in her capacity as KCB's Head of Data Protection, was instructed by her superiors to delete, alter, conceal or otherwise interfere with any records relating to the disputed funds.
Human rights activist Francis Awino said the inquiry should establish who may have issued such instructions and how Koech-Kimwatu responded.
«“Investigators must establish who issued them, when they were issued, what Rosemary was required to do, whether she complied, whether she objected or raised concerns, and whether she communicated with anyone about those instructions before her death,” Awino said.»
The Alliance is also calling for the preservation of electronic and transaction records that could help investigators establish what happened.
Awino said any investigation should determine whether Koech-Kimwatu raised concerns about the alleged instructions or communicated with anyone about them before her death.
The group has further called for KCB Group chief executive officer Paul Russo to temporarily step aside pending investigations, saying this would help protect the integrity of the inquiry.
However, the Alliance has not provided evidence establishing that the Sh146.3 billion transaction was responsible for Koech-Kimwatu's death.
Its demand is focused on whether she may have encountered or been given instructions concerning records linked to the transaction in the course of her work and whether those records were subsequently interfered with.
The circumstances surrounding her death have also attracted attention following the post-mortem findings. Reports citing her family said Koech-Kimwatu had been experiencing personal and financial difficulties before her death.
Koech-Kimwatu joined KCB in June 2022 as a Data Protection Officer after working as Public Policy Manager at Safaricom. She was promoted to Head of Data Protection in June 2023.
She was also involved in Kenya's technology and digital governance sector and served as a trustee of KICTANet, where she worked on issues including data protection and internet governance.
The Alliance is now seeking an independent inquiry to establish the circumstances surrounding Koech-Kimwatu's death and determine whether the questions it has raised concerning the disputed transaction and related records have any factual basis.
The Alliance has also called for KCB Group chief executive officer Paul Russo to resign, saying the bank’s Board should hold him accountable over the concerns raised about the handling of the Sh146.3 billion transaction.
