Activists Demand Probe into KCB Official’s Death and Disputed Sh146.3 Billion Transaction

Human rights activist saddresses the media in Nairobi, calling for an independent probe into the death of KCB Head of Data Protection Rosemary Koech-Kimwatu and the contested Sh146.3 billion transaction involving Fox Capital Investment Limited.

By: Gladys Karuga

A civil society group has called for an independent and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of Rosemary Koech-Kimwatu, the Head of Data Protection at KCB, while also demanding scrutiny of the bank’s handling of a disputed Sh146.3 billion transaction involving Fox Capital Investment Limited.

Speaking during a press briefing in Nairobi, human rights activist and public interest advocate Francis Awino said the circumstances surrounding Koech-Kimwatu’s death, together with questions raised over the multi-billion-shilling transaction, require urgent and impartial investigation.

Koech-Kimwatu died suddenly on August 21, 2026, in circumstances that the activists described as unclear. The group said her position within the bank’s data protection and information systems structures makes it important for investigators to establish whether she had any involvement with, or knowledge of, electronic records connected to the disputed transaction.

The activists said they were particularly concerned about whether the deceased officer could have been subjected to undue pressure or intimidation, or whether she received instructions from senior officials to delete, alter, suppress or otherwise interfere with digital records relating to the funds.

However, the group stressed that it was not accusing any individual of causing Koech-Kimwatu’s death.

“We are not alleging that these instructions caused Rosemary’s death, nor are we accusing any individual of responsibility for her death. We are demanding that this line of inquiry be independently investigated and conclusively addressed,” the activists said.

Awino said the circumstances surrounding the matter also raise serious corporate governance concerns, arguing that senior management should not remain in unrestricted control of a regulated financial institution while allegations requiring investigation remain unresolved.

He called for the immediate stepping aside of KCB Group Chief Executive Officer Paul Russo as a precautionary governance measure, stressing that the demand should not be interpreted as a declaration of guilt.

“No Chief Executive Officer should remain in full control of a regulated financial institution while serious and credible allegations concerning his administration are awaiting investigation,” Awino said.

The activists are also demanding the preservation of all records that could assist investigators in establishing what happened to the funds and whether any digital evidence was altered or interfered with. These include electronic audit trails, SWIFT messages, system logs, emails and relevant physical documentation associated with Incident No. KCB-FIN-IT-2026-0417.

The group further wants KCB Group to fully comply with existing High Court orders restricting the bank from transferring or otherwise dealing with the funds reportedly being held under a “HELD – PRE-SETTLEMENT SUSPENSE” status.

According to the activists, preservation of the records is critical because any deletion, alteration or loss of electronic evidence could undermine investigations into both the disputed transaction and the circumstances surrounding Koech-Kimwatu’s death.

They are also calling for an immediate, impartial investigation into the death and for the findings of the post-mortem examination to be communicated to Koech-Kimwatu’s family in a timely and transparent manner.

The civil society group said the investigation should establish the circumstances leading to the death, examine any relevant workplace or professional pressures, and determine whether there were any attempts to interfere with information or evidence connected to the disputed transaction.

The activists have given KCB Group 72 hours to respond to their demands.

They warned that failure to receive a satisfactory response within the stated period would prompt them to exercise their constitutional right under Article 37 of the Constitution to organise peaceful demonstrations and a sit-down protest at KCB Headquarters.

The group also said it would petition the High Court, the Central Bank of Kenya and the Financial Reporting Centre over the issues surrounding the transaction, the preservation of evidence and the wider governance concerns it has raised.

The activists maintained that their demands are aimed at ensuring accountability, protecting evidence and securing an independent investigation rather than prejudging the guilt or innocence of any person.

They called on all relevant authorities to act swiftly, saying the death of a senior data protection official in the midst of a contested multi-billion-shilling transaction warrants close scrutiny and a transparent process capable of establishing the facts.