The death of Rosemary Koech Kimwatu, the Head of Data Protection at KCB Group, has sparked renewed discussion about workplace pressure, employee welfare and the treatment of staff in Kenya’s corporate sector.
Koech, a mother of four, was found dead at her home in Ngong on Friday, August 21.
Her death has prompted questions about the circumstances surrounding her final days, with former colleagues and industry peers alleging that she had been experiencing difficulties at her workplace.
According to people who knew her, Koech had raised concerns about what they described as a difficult relationship with her immediate supervisor.
The allegations include claims of public criticism, intense workload demands and repeated questioning of her professional decisions. Former colleagues said the experience left her increasingly distressed and concerned about how she was perceived within the organisation.
However, the circumstances surrounding her death have not been publicly established, and claims linking workplace experiences directly to her death remain allegations.
A distinguished career
A building entrance with a KCB Group signage. Photo: The Star Source: Facebook
Koech had built an extensive career spanning law, technology, fintech, public policy and data protection.
Before joining KCB, she held senior positions in the technology and fintech sectors, including roles at WayaWaya and MODE.
She later joined Safaricom as a Public Policy Manager before moving to KCB in June 2022 as the bank’s Data Protection Officer.
Her career at KCB progressed quickly. Within about a year, she was promoted to Head of Data Protection, taking on responsibility for data protection compliance across the group’s operations.
Her work placed her among professionals helping shape Kenya’s growing data protection and digital rights landscape.
A leading voice on data protection
Koech’s influence extended beyond her formal employment.
She served as a trustee at the Kenya ICT Action Network, commonly known as KICTANet, where she participated in discussions around privacy, digital rights and responsible use of technology.
She was also a founding vice president of the Data Privacy and Governance Society of Kenya, an organisation established during the development of Kenya’s data governance framework.
Colleagues in the sector remembered her as an advocate for responsible data management and stronger privacy protections.
Her work brought her into contact with policymakers, regulators and civil society organisations working on digital rights and data governance.
A view of a building displaying the KCB logo prominently above the entrance. Photo: Tuko Source: Facebook.
The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner had also recognised her contribution to the data protection sector.
Colleagues raise workplace concerns
People who worked with Koech said she had confided in trusted colleagues about challenges she was facing at work.
Some described her as increasingly worried about what they believed was an attempt to undermine her professional standing.
The accounts have raised questions about whether concerns regarding her wellbeing were adequately addressed before her death.
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 by Koech.
KCB has not, based on the information available here, publicly established that workplace harassment contributed to her death.
Questions over corporate culture
Koech’s death has nevertheless reignited a broader debate about employee welfare in Kenya’s corporate sector.
The banking industry is known for demanding work environments, with employees often operating under strict deadlines, performance targets and significant workloads.
The concerns raised following Koech’s death have therefore extended beyond her individual case to questions about how organisations handle workplace conflict, management conduct and employee mental wellbeing.
The debate is particularly significant because Koech held a senior position and had extensive professional experience.
Her case has prompted questions about whether employees at lower levels of an organisation may face even greater difficulty raising concerns when they feel mistreated or overwhelmed.
Calls for deeper investigation
Some activists and professionals have called for a closer examination of the circumstances surrounding Koech’s death, including the workplace environment in which she operated.
They argue that employers need stronger systems for reporting harassment, addressing management disputes and supporting employees experiencing severe workplace pressure.
They also say managers should be held accountable for conduct that may create hostile or unsafe working environments.
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 may have faced in the period before her death and whether more could have been done to support her.
Koech leaves behind four children and a professional legacy built over nearly two decades in law, technology, public policy and data protection.
