Bob Collymore to be laid to rest on Tuesday in a private ceremony

Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore will be laid to rest tomorrow in a private ceremony, chairman Nicholas Ng’ang’a has confirmed.

Collymore, an accomplished British business executive born in Guyana breathed his last on Monday after a protracted battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

“Bob will be laid to rest tomorrow in a private ceremony and a memorial will be held either on Thursday or Friday but more information will be shared in due course,” said the chairman.

Citizen TV news anchor and talk show host Jeff Koinange who spent time with Collymore on Saturday said that the Safaricom boss knew he had one month left to live.

“I’ve never seen anyone prepared for death as I saw in this man. We had a walk at around 3:00 pm and hanged up with him, he was in a bit of pain. His spine was giving him some problem,” said Koinange on Monday morning during Day Break, a TV breakfast show on Citizen TV.

“He kept saying I have lived a good life I have some regrets, nobody is perfect I am ready now,” added Koinange.

Chairman Ng’ang’a said that Collymore had already informed the board that his detororiating health condition meant that he would not be able to see through his new one year term.

{Read: After cancer scare, Bob Collymore expected to steer Safaricom to greater heights}

“The board was aware that sooner or later, we needed to organise succession for Bob. In any case, his contract was due to end next month.We will be giving the way forward later today or in the next 24 hours,” said Ng’ang’a.

“I will be calling for a board meeting this afternoon to chart the way forward,” added Ng’ang’a.

Collymore has been eulogised as a visionary business executive and a kind person. President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga have spoken highly of Collymore.

"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

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

My condolences go out to the friends and family of Mr Bob Collymore as well as the entire Safaricom fraternity.
Bob served our country with dedication and sustained us as a communication hub in Africa. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) July 1, 2019

{See also: Mercy Oburu, Collymore to steer National Cancer Institute}

The deceased leaves behind a widow, Wambui Kamiru and four children.