Activists Issue 72-Hour Ultimatum to KCB Over Manager Rosemary Koech Kimwatu's Death as Calls Grow For Independent Probe

The Alliance for Human Rights Activists has demanded an independent and impartial investigation into the death of KCB Bank Head of Data Protection Rosemary Koech Kimwatu, calling for the preservation of all physical and electronic evidence, including emails, system logs, audit trails, and communication records, while dismissing reports that she died by suicide.

The civil society group has threatened mass action outside KCB's headquarters within 72 hours if their demands are not met, insisting that the circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear and that efforts are being made to conceal the real cause.

The group also called for the immediate preservation of all physical and electronic evidence related to what they termed a Ksh 146 billion transaction, including emails, system logs, audit trails, communication records, and compliance records.

Their demand comes amid reports that the 40-year-old mother of four was subjected to sustained harassment by her immediate supervisor, Faith Basiye, the Group Chief Risk Officer, with insiders revealing that she had formally lodged complaints with KCB's Human Resources department and Managing Director Annastacia Kimtai, all of which are said to have been ignored.

Current and former employees have since described a toxic culture at the bank, where staff are routinely belittled, overworked, and terrified of speaking out, with the human resources department accused of protecting senior management rather than addressing employee grievances.

Before her death became public through official channels, a leaked message had already begun circulating on social media, revealing that Koech had formally reported her concerns in writing.

The message detailed how she had lodged complaints with KCB's Human Resources department, the Chief Executive Officer, and even Safaricom, alleging that Basiye was mishandling her and contributing to her deteriorating mental health. Despite these urgent pleas, none of the complaints were taken seriously.

Central to this dysfunction, according to several individuals who spoke off the record for fear of retaliation, is Managing Director Annastacia Kimtai, a veteran with 27 years in banking who broke ground in April 2023 as the first female chief of the institution. 

She now stands accused of presiding over an atmosphere where coercion, dread, and outrageous expectations are ordinary.

The revelations about Kimtai's leadership style come as questions mount over the broader workplace culture at KCB, which insiders describe as one where excessive workloads, unrealistic deadlines, and constant criticism have become routine, and where promotions and career advancement are often dependent on how well one can tolerate the pressure rather than on actual performance.

Rosemary's death has brought these hidden realities into sharp focus, and insiders say her case is not an isolated one but rather a symptom of a much deeper problem that has been festering within KCB for years, with many employees having witnessed similar patterns of behaviour directed at colleagues who were seen as threats to management's authority.

What happened to Koech is tragic but also a direct consequence of the environment that senior leadership has created. 

By subjecting employees to relentless pressure, belittling them, making them feel worthless, and denying them any avenue to raise their concerns, management is essentially setting them up for a breakdown.

It remains unclear whether any internal investigations have been launched into the claims made by current and former employees, many of whom have expressed scepticism that the bank will take meaningful action.

Insiders say the bank's leadership is well aware of the problem and has chosen to look the other way because addressing it would require confronting powerful figures like Kimtai, something they are not willing to do, and because the bank's reputation and profitability are seen as more important than the welfare of its employees. 

This news outlet will continue to monitor developments as pressure mounts on KCB to address the growing outcry over its workplace culture and the circumstances surrounding her death.