Bob Collymore, Safaricom Chief Executive Officer, has died at the age of 61 at his home in Nairobi early Monday morning. The Guyanese-born British citizen took a medical leave in October 2017 to fight cancer.
“He has been undergoing treatment for his condition since then in different hospitals and most recently at Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi. In recent weeks, his condition worsened and he succumbed to cancer at his home in the early hours of Monday,” Safaricom chairman Nicholas Ng’anga said in a statement.
Bob Collymore has been the head of East and Central Africa’s biggest telco services provider, which recently declared a record Sh63.4 billion profit, since he took over from Michael Joseph in November 2010.
President Uhuru Kenyatta was among the first leaders to mourn Collymore’s death, noting that the country has lost a distinguished corporate leader.
Our beloved CEO @bobcollymore has passed. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, our colleagues, partners and the nation at large. pic.twitter.com/NHxgWAemcT
— Safaricom PLC (@SafaricomPLC) July 1, 2019
“It is with deep sadness that I have this morning received news of the death of Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore after years of battling cancer. As a country, we’ve lost a distinguished corporate leader whose contribution to our national wellbeing will be missed,” said President Kenyatta in a tweet on Monday.
"It is with deep sadness that I have this morning received news of the death of Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore after years of battling cancer. As a country, we've lost a distinguished corporate leader whose contribution to our national wellbeing will be missed" ~ H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta
— State House Kenya (@StateHouseKenya) July 1, 2019
In December 2018, Mr Kenyatta appointed Collymore a member of the Kenya Vision 2030 Delivery Board for a three-year term. In May this year, Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki appointed Collymore to the National Cancer Institute board.
Bob Collymore was a distinguished corporate titan, whose shrewd leadership at the helm of Safaricom was commendable. He steered the company to new heights and contributed immensely to the evolution of Kenya's corporate scene.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) July 1, 2019
Collymore was exemplary, brilliant and courageous, especially in the manner he battled cancer. Condolences to his family, colleagues and friends. Rest In Peace.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) July 1, 2019
Deputy President William Ruto praised Collymore as a “distinguished corporate titan” whose leadership helped the telco scale new height.
We extend our deepest sympathies to @WambuiKamiru and the entire family of #bobcollymore and @SafaricomPLC @SafaricomFDN on the passing of a great leader and friend. May his soul rest in peace pic.twitter.com/WIJqrldDSx
— Google in Africa (@googleafrica) July 1, 2019
“Collymore was exemplary, brilliant and courageous, especially in the manner he battled cancer. Condolences to his family, colleagues and friends. Rest In Peace,” said DP Ruto in his condolence message to Collymore’s family, colleagues and friends.
He is survived by wife Wambui Kamiru and four children.
