KCB Head of Data Rosemary Chemutai Koech’s family has explained the Kalenjin clan customs and traditional rituals observed during her burial, with clan elder Keter saying their cultural practices guided the decisions after her death.
The burial of Rosemary Chemutai took place on Friday night, August 28, 2026, at around 7:30 p.m. in Chepseon village, Kipkelion, Kericho County.
According to the clan elder, the family’s decisions following the death were guided by their culture and traditions.
Why Rosemary Chemutai was to be Buried Fast
Keter said he was among those who traveled to Nairobi and took part in lengthy discussions on how to handle the matter.
He said the deceased, Rosemary Chemutai, had passed through a particular place before his death, and according to their culture, a person who goes through such circumstances should not remain there for three or four days.
The elder also said their customs require that after a postmortem, the body should not remain for two days before burial. He explained that the family therefore followed their cultural practices when making decisions about the burial.
“Our child passed through a place where he passed through, but according to our culture, when a person goes through such circumstances, they should not stay for even three or four days. Also, when a postmortem is conducted, according to our culture, the person should not remain for even two days before being buried,” the family elder said.
Kalenjin Clan Customs and Rituals Observed During the Burial
Keter said the clan also carried out traditional cleansing rituals to prevent a similar incident from happening to another person. He explained that items associated with the incident had to be handled carefully.
The elder cited a rope that may have been used in the incident, saying it would undergo cleansing. He said a goat is slaughtered and its oil or fat is used during the cleansing process before the items are dealt with or destroyed.
“First, if they go there, there is the rope that perhaps he used. That rope will be important for the cleansing process. We have to slaughter a goat, then we take its oil or fat, apply it, and carry out the cleansing. We cannot leave it as it is because if the rope or anything that was used is left there, another person, perhaps another child or someone else, could come and hang themselves with it,” he explained.
He explained that the deceased was buried on their own piece of land after the family consulted the deceased’s father and mother. He said they did not bury the deceased on the ancestral family land because the deceased had their own land.
The elder said the decision was not intended to create conflict with the deceased’s other family members. He said the deceased’s children have rights to the land and remain welcome to live there or visit the family.
“We did that especially because of our culture and the rules according to our traditions and customs. But specifically, according to the customs of our clan…”
He said the family had no dispute with the other side and that the decisions made during the burial were based on their clan’s customs and traditions.
Also Read: How Rosemary Koech Died: Sister Shares Her Final Journal Notes and Secrets
The elder said the family had taken the measures to ensure that what happened would not be repeated among other family members. He also welcomed those who wished to visit, mourn, and pray with the family.
Rosemary Chemutai Death
Rosemary Chemutai Koech, also known as Rosemary Chemutai Kimwatu, was a 40-year-old Kenyan lawyer and technology-policy expert who served as Head of Data Protection in the Risk Division at KCB Bank Group. She was also a mother of four.
She was found dead on the morning of Friday, August 21, 2026, at her residence in Ngong, Kajiado County, after reportedly locking herself in her bedroom.
A postmortem conducted by Chief Government Pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor at Lee Funeral Home established that she died by suicide. No suicide note was recovered.
Reports surrounding her death cited marital difficulties and financial pressures. Her husband, Kevin Migwe Kimwatu, and her family later became involved in a dispute over her burial arrangements.
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