Rosemary Koech Kimwatu, Head of Data Protection at KCB Bank Group, was found dead at her Ngong home on Friday, August 21, in what authorities suspect was a suicide.
The mother of four had built an extraordinary career spanning nearly two decades across law, fintech, public policy and data protection. She joined KCB in June 2022 as Data Protection Officer and was promoted to Head of Data Protection in June 2023, overseeing compliance across the Group’s operations.
But in the days since her death, former colleagues and industry peers have come forward with troubling accounts of what she endured in her final months.
A Pattern of Hostility
According to people who worked alongside her, Koech had confided in trusted colleagues about what she described as an “increasingly hostile” work environment.
She expressed fear that her professional reputation was being deliberately undermined by her immediate supervisor.
The allegations paint a picture of systematic harassment: public belittlement, excessive workload demands, and constant criticism that gradually stripped away her confidence.
Friends say the very qualities that made her so effective her dedication, attention to detail, and unwavering commitment to doing what was right appeared to be exactly what made her a target.
One former colleague described how she was “increasingly distressed and concerned about how she was perceived within the organisation”.
A Distinguished Career Cut Short
Koech was no ordinary employee. Before KCB, she served as Public Policy Manager at Safaricom PLC and held senior legal and regulatory roles at fintech firms WayaWaya and MODE.
Beyond the bank, she was a trustee at the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet), where she helped shape digital rights and privacy frameworks across the region.
She was also a founding vice president of the Data Privacy and Governance Society of Kenya.
The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner recognised her as a “trusted voice” in the industry.
In a statement, KICTANet Chair Ali Hussein described her as “a pillar” who brought a rare combination of warmth, conviction, humour, and dedication to the public good.
Unanswered Questions
Her family has not disclosed the circumstances surrounding her death but has asked the public to keep her four children in their thoughts and prayers.
However, colleagues and activists are now asking hard questions: Did anyone raise concerns about what she was going through before it was too late?
Did the institution that benefited enormously from her expertise intervene as her mental health visibly deteriorated?
It remains unclear whether formal complaints were made to KCB management, whether any internal process was initiated, or what steps, if any, were taken to address the concerns reportedly raised.
KCB has not publicly confirmed or responded to the harassment allegations.
A Broader Pattern?
This is not the first time KCB has faced scrutiny over workplace conduct. In 2024, the Employment and Labour Relations Court ordered the bank to pay Sh1.7 million to a former employee who was forced to resign after the bank mishandled her sexual harassment complaint against her supervisor.
The court found that her complaint was “ignored at every turn” and she was “turned into a villain and forced out of employment”.
If It Could Happen to Her.
The most unsettling question emerging from this tragedy: If a woman at the top of her field, with nearly two decades of experience and a formidable reputation across multiple industries, could be pushed to this point, what happens to those below her?
Koech’s death has reignited a broader debate about employee welfare in Kenya’s corporate sector, particularly in the banking industry known for high-pressure environments where long hours, unrealistic targets, and aggressive management styles are often treated as prerequisites for success.
For Kenya’s corporate sector, the tragedy has become a reminder that employee wellbeing cannot be separated from organisational performance.
As her family, friends, and professional colleagues mourn her death, questions remain about the challenges she faced in the period before her death and whether more could have been done to support her.
Add Comment