Rosemary Koech's family explains why they defied court order to bury her at night

The 40-year-old, who served as KCB Bank's Head of Data Protection in the risk division, was found dead at her residence in the Ole Nairi area of Ngong on August 21. An autopsy conducted by Chief Government Pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor established that she died by suicide.

Speaking during Rosemary's memorial service on Saturday, August 29, clan chairman Samwel Keter, who is also a relative, said the decision to bury her at night was guided by Kalenjin cultural practices.

Keter said the family had travelled to Nairobi for discussions over the burial arrangements but ultimately decided to follow their cultural traditions, which he said required the deceased to be buried within a short period after death and, in particular, after a post-mortem examination.

“I was among those people who went to Nairobi and we had lengthy discussions. Kwa culture, mtu akipitia mahali alipitia kama hiyo, haifai akae hata siku tatu ama nne. Pia mtu akifanyiwa post-mortem kwa culture yetu, haistahili akae siku mbili kabla hajazikwa,” Keter stated.

He said the family was also concerned about performing traditional cleansing rituals associated with the circumstances surrounding Rosemary's death.

“Kuna ile kamba alitumia, lazima tufanye cleansing. Lazima kuwe na mbuzi ambayo tuchinje, alafu tunaleta hiyo mafuta tunaweka, alafu tunafanya hiyo kazi,” Keter stated.

Keter added that the family could not allow the burial to be delayed because of the cultural obligations they believed had to be fulfilled.

“We did it because of the Kalenjin culture. Specifically, to our clan, hatutaki kitu ambayo itaweza kutufuata,” he stated.

He also explained why the family chose to bury Rosemary at the Chepseon family home, saying they believed she had a right to be laid to rest on the land belonging to her family.

“Hatuna shida na upande mwingine. Tuliuliza baba Chemu, tuliweka kwa shamba lake kwa sababu sisi tunajua kila mtoto ako na right ya kupata kitu katika boma la familia yake,” Keter stated.

Keter further said the family's cultural practices do not allow burials to take place during the day, explaining that Rosemary had to be interred late on Friday night.

“Katika Kalenjin, hatuwezi zika mtu mchana. Tunazika mtu kama saa imeenda, bora isipite saa sita ya usiku,” he stated.

Keter, however, said the family had no disagreement with Kevin and maintained that he remained part of the family.

“Kevin, who's the father to Chemu's children, we have no grudge with him. The place where she's resting belongs to her and by extension to the children, Kevin included. Ata kesho akija, akae na watoto, we have no issue. Kevin, you're part and parcel of us,” he stated.

The family proceeded with the burial hours after the Milimani Commercial Magistrate's Court issued interim orders stopping the interment without the involvement and consent of Rosemary's husband. 

The burial dispute had pitted Rosemary's parents against her husband, with her parents seeking to have her buried at their Chepseon home, while Kevin wanted her laid to rest at his ancestral home in Matasia, Ngong, Kajiado County.

The dispute is expected to return to court on Monday, August 31, when the parties are expected to address the circumstances surrounding Rosemary's burial and the interim orders issued by the court.