Why court has stopped burial of KCB executive Rosemary Chemutai

The late KCB executive Rosemary Chemutai Kimwatu.[X]

The burial of KCB executive Rosemary Chemutai Kimwatu has been halted after her husband, Kevin Migwe Kimwatu, moved to court seeking to be involved in her funeral arrangements.

Milimani Commercial Magistrate Agnes Mwangi on Friday barred family members, relatives or KCB Bank employees from removing Chemutai’s remains from Lee Funeral Home without her husband’s involvement.

The court further barred the respondents, their relatives, servants, agents and employees from taking any action that would interfere with the remains of the deceased pending an inter partes hearing of the application.

“That an interim temporary injunction hereby issues restraining the Respondents by themselves or through their relatives, servants, agents and or employees from removing the remains and or body of the late Rosemary Chemutai Kimwatu’s (‘the deceased’) from Lee Funeral Home pending the interpartes hearing of the application,” the court ordered.

Magistrate Mwangi also restrained the respondents from making funeral arrangements or proceeding with the burial without Migwe’s involvement.

“An interim temporary injunction hereby issues restraining the respondents, their servants, agents, employees and or relatives from making any funeral arrangements and burial without the applicant’s involvement pending the inter-partes hearing of this application.”

The orders were issued in a case filed by Chemutai’s husband, Kevin Migwe Kimwatu, against KCB Bank Kenya Limited, Paul Kipkorir Koech and three others.

After considering the application and supporting documents, the magistrate certified the matter as urgent and issued interim orders preserving the status quo pending the parties’ appearance before the court.

“THAT the matter is certified urgent,” the magistrate directed.

The court directed that the application be served upon the respondents and fixed the matter for further directions on Monday, August 31, 2026.

The order also carries a penal notice warning the parties, and anyone served, against disobeying or failing to comply with the court’s directions.

“Take notice that any disobedience or non-observance of the order of the court served herewith will result in penal consequences to you and any other person(s) disobeying and not observing the same.”

Kimwatu, who was identified as a KCB Bank Group executive, died on August 21, 2026.

Her death has attracted considerable public attention, with reports focusing on the circumstances surrounding her final days as well as her professional and family life.

A post-mortem examination conducted at Lee Funeral Home reportedly established the cause of death as suicide.

The latest court orders mean that her remains will remain at the funeral home, and no burial arrangements can proceed without the involvement of her husband until the court considers the application further.