Days after the death of a senior manager at KCB Bank Kenya, new details have emerged about the workplace conditions that colleagues say contributed to her decision to take her own life. Rosemary Koech Kimwatu, who served as Head of Data Protection at the bank, died by suicide following what several current and former staff members have described as prolonged harassment and pressure at work under Managing Director Annastacia Kimtai.
In those reports she alleged that her direct supervisor, Faith Basiye, the Group Chief Risk Officer, was treating her poorly and that the situation was harming her mental health. According to people familiar with the matter, those complaints received little attention.
Multiple sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared retaliation have linked the problems to a wider culture inside the bank.
They point to Managing Director Annastacia Kimtai, who took up the role in April 2023 and became the first woman to lead the institution.
While her appointment was widely welcomed as a step forward for gender representation in Kenyan banking, some staff now describe a management approach marked by high demands, limited tolerance for questioning, and an atmosphere of fear.
One former senior manager who worked closely with Kimtai said she expects complete loyalty and reacts strongly to any challenge.
The same source claimed that those who raise doubts are often sidelined, publicly criticised in meetings, or eventually leave the organisation.
A current employee with more than ten years of service at the bank added that staff are expected to remain available at all hours.
Failure to reply quickly to calls or messages can lead to accusations of poor performance.
The pressure, the employee said, leaves little room for learning from mistakes and creates constant anxiety.
Several workers have spoken of high staff turnover. They say many people resign not because better jobs appear elsewhere but because they can no longer cope with the environment.
Some reported seeing colleagues break down during meetings or develop stress-related health problems.
Human Resources, which is meant to support staff, is viewed by these sources as more focused on protecting senior management.
One employee put it simply: when someone reports a problem, that person often becomes the problem.
Kimwatu’s case is seen by those familiar with the bank as part of a longer pattern rather than an isolated incident. Colleagues recalled noticing her growing distress in the months before her death.
Some tried to flag the issue with Human Resources but were told little could be done.
Those who knew her professionally described her as a capable and accomplished specialist whose difficulties were overlooked until it was too late.
Attention has also turned to Kimtai’s personal connections. She is married to a Permanent Secretary in a government ministry. Sources say this relationship, together with her own long career and network of contacts, has given her significant influence and made many people reluctant to challenge her decisions.
One person familiar with her background stated that crossing her can feel like confronting an entire network of power, which discourages open discussion of problems.
The circumstances surrounding Kimwatu’s death have prompted calls from labour rights groups and other observers for an independent look at working conditions at the bank. They argue that the case highlights wider weaknesses in how large Kenyan companies handle employee welfare and complaints of harassment.
Some have urged the government to review labour protections so that staff have clearer ways to raise concerns without fear of consequences.
It is not yet clear whether the bank has opened any formal internal inquiry into the claims made by staff. Several people inside the organisation expressed doubt that meaningful change will follow, saying the board is aware of the issues but reluctant to confront a powerful figure.
For now, Kimwatu’s death has drawn public attention to questions about pressure, accountability and support for employees in one of Kenya’s largest banks.
Those who worked with her say her story should not be allowed to fade without a proper examination of the conditions that preceded it.
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