Rosemary Koech: What we know so far about the tragic death of Tech Wakili

The sudden death of Rosemary Chemutai Koech-Kimwatu has left Kenya’s legal, corporate and technology communities grappling with the loss of a woman whose career had placed her at the centre of some of the country’s most important conversations about technology, privacy and data protection.

Rosemary, popularly known in professional circles as ‘Tech Wakili’, died on Friday, August 21, 2026, aged 40, at her home in Ngong, Kajiado County.

Her death initially left many questions unanswered, particularly because of how suddenly she died and because of the prominence she had attained in Kenya’s technology and corporate sectors.

In the days that followed, however, information from the postmortem examination, investigators, her family, colleagues and the institutions with which she worked has begun to provide a clearer picture of what is known about her final days, while some questions remain under investigation.

What happened to Rosemary Koech?

Rosemary died at her residence in the Ole Nairi area of Ngong.

According to reports on the investigation, concern arose after family members were unable to reach her and received no response to repeated calls and knocks at her bedroom door. A local caretaker was eventually called to assist after attempts to gain access to the room failed.

The circumstances surrounding her death were subsequently investigated by police, with the scene processed as investigators sought to establish what had happened.

A postmortem examination was later conducted at Lee Funeral Home by Chief Government Pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor.

The examination established that Rosemary died by suicide. The finding provided an official medical conclusion on the cause of death, even as police inquiries into the circumstances surrounding her final days continued.

Why was there so much speculation?

Rosemary’s death generated considerable public interest partly because of the profile she had built over nearly two decades.

She was not only a senior corporate executive but also a lawyer, technology-policy specialist and prominent voice in Kenya’s data protection sector. She had worked at the intersection of law and technology at a time when data privacy had become one of the most important issues facing companies, governments and technology platforms.

Her death therefore prompted an outpouring of grief from people who had interacted with her professionally and personally. It also generated intense discussion online about what might have happened in the period leading to her death.

A career built around technology, law and privacy

Long before her death, Rosemary had established herself as one of the professionals helping shape Kenya’s rapidly changing digital economy.

She was serving as Head of Data Protection at KCB Bank Group at the time of her death. She joined KCB in June 2022 as a Data Protection Officer and was promoted to Group Head of Data Protection in June 2023. Her work involved one of the most consequential areas of modern corporate governance: ensuring that organisations handle personal information responsibly and comply with data protection requirements.

Her professional journey had begun well before her move to KCB. She previously worked at Safaricom, where she served as Public Policy Manager, giving her experience in telecommunications, regulation and technology policy.

She also held senior positions at technology and fintech-related organisations including WayaWaya and MODE, as well as roles at Oxygène Marketing Communications.

Her career therefore stretched across law, public policy, technology, telecommunications, fintech and banking.

It was this combination that made her particularly influential.

More than a corporate executive

Rosemary’s influence extended beyond her formal employment.

She was a trustee of the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet), where she became an important voice on privacy, data governance and digital policy. KICTANet remembered her as an advocate for privacy and data governance and highlighted the contribution she made to discussions about Kenya’s digital economy.

She was also involved in wider industry and policy initiatives, including work connected to fintech, internet governance and data protection. Her professional footprint reflected the increasingly interconnected nature of Kenya’s technology sector, where lawyers, policymakers, regulators, financial institutions and technology companies must increasingly work together.

Rosemary was one of the professionals who operated comfortably across those boundaries.

Her academic journey

Her professional achievements were backed by an extensive academic and professional background. Rosemary was an alumna of Alliance Girls High School.

She studied law at the University of Nairobi, where she earned her Bachelor of Laws degree. She also pursued further professional and business education, including an Advanced Diploma in Public Relations and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Suffolk.

Her education reflected the unusual combination that became central to her career: law, communication, business and technology.

Rather than remaining within traditional legal practice, she moved into areas where legal knowledge increasingly intersects with innovation and corporate governance.

A respected figure in the legal community

News of Rosemary’s death sent shockwaves through the legal profession.

Former Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo joined colleagues and friends in mourning her, describing her as a remarkable professional whose work had made a significant contribution to the technology and data protection space.

Her death was also deeply felt among technology professionals who had worked with her on digital policy and governance issues. For many of them, Rosemary was not simply the person responsible for data protection at a major bank. She was a mentor, policy advocate and bridge between Kenya’s legal and technology communities.

A life that touched many people

Rosemary leaves behind her husband and four children, including twins. The presence of four young children has added another deeply personal dimension to the grief surrounding her death.

For colleagues who knew her professionally, however, the loss extends beyond her immediate family. It represents the disappearance of a professional who had spent years helping Kenya navigate questions that were still relatively new when she began her career.

Data protection, internet governance and digital privacy have become central issues in modern Kenya, affecting everything from banking and telecommunications to government services and online platforms.

Rosemary built her career around those questions. KICTANet’s tribute described her as a champion of privacy and data governance and highlighted her work in strengthening Kenya’s digital policy environment.

‘100 years’ worth of accomplishments’

At the condolence service, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei offered one of the most striking reflections on Rosemary’s relatively short life.

She said that although Rosemary had lived for only 40 years, her accomplishments amounted to what could be described as “100 years’ worth of accomplishments.” The remark captured the sentiment expressed by many of those who knew her.

Her career had moved rapidly through several sectors, and by the time of her death she had accumulated experience that stretched across legal practice, technology policy, telecommunications, fintech, banking and data protection.