The family of Rosemary Koech has asked the public to respect their privacy as they mourn her death, while also distancing themselves from claims circulating online about her time at KCB Bank Group.
The 40-year-old senior banker died at her home in Ngong on August 21, 2026, leaving behind her husband and four children.
Rosemary was a respected professional whose career brought together law, technology, public policy and data protection.
At the time of her death, she was serving as Head of Data Protection at KCB Bank Group, a position she had held after joining the institution in 2022.
Before moving to KCB, she worked at Safaricom as a Public Policy Manager.Her death has been widely felt across Kenya’s banking, legal and technology sectors, where she was known for her knowledge and contribution to important discussions around data governance.
Colleagues and organisations that worked with her have continued to remember her as a dedicated professional who took her responsibilities seriously.
However, in the days following her death, several accounts began appearing online about her personal and professional life. Some of the claims attempted to link difficulties she may have faced to her workplace.
The stories quickly attracted attention and raised questions among members of the public.
Her family has now made it clear that those claims should not be taken as their position.
Paul Koech, speaking on behalf of the family, said Rosemary’s parents had no doubts about the support she received from KCB during her career.
According to the family, the bank provided her with the space and support she needed to grow professionally and perform her duties.
The family also said KCB remained supportive when Rosemary was unwell and continued to stand with them after her death. They expressed gratitude to the institution for the assistance given to the family during a difficult period.
The statement from the family is significant because it directly addresses some of the narratives that have emerged since Rosemary’s death.
Rather than joining the public debate, her parents have chosen to focus on their experience and the support they received from people and institutions around them.
The family said the different narratives being shared online do not represent their position.
They have appealed to the public to allow them to mourn their daughter without additional speculation.
Rosemary’s professional record extended beyond her work at KCB and Safaricom. She was involved in discussions and initiatives relating to data protection, internet governance and public policy in Kenya.
Her experience in these areas placed her among professionals contributing to the country’s growing debate on how personal information should be protected in an increasingly digital society.
Her work also saw her participate in boards and professional engagements where questions around technology, law and governance were discussed.
For many who knew her professionally, her death represents the loss of a person who had built considerable experience in areas that continue to shape Kenya’s digital future.
The circumstances surrounding her death have understandably attracted public interest, but the family has urged people to avoid turning their grief into speculation.
They have instead asked that Rosemary be remembered for her professional contribution, her relationships with those close to her and the life she lived.
Her death has also left a family facing the difficult task of grieving while dealing with widespread public attention.
For her parents, husband, children, relatives and friends, the loss is personal and painful.
At a time when information can spread quickly through social media, the family’s statement offers a direct account of where they stand. They have expressed appreciation for the people and institutions that supported Rosemary and the family during difficult moments.
The message from her parents is ultimately a request for restraint. They want the public to allow the family to mourn without being drawn into stories that they say do not reflect their experience.
Rosemary Koech leaves behind a professional record built over years of work in law, public policy, technology and data protection. Those who knew her continue to remember the contribution she made in those fields, while her family asks that her memory be treated with dignity as they come to terms with her loss.
