This archive report was first published on 6 July 2020.
On a fateful night in July 2020, Bob Collymore, the former CEO of Safaricom, passed away after a long battle with leukemia. His wife, Wambui Kamiru Collymore, has now shared the intimate details of his final hours, giving a glimpse into the preparations he made for his death and the moments leading up to his passing.
According to Wambui, Bob's final minutes were filled with a sense of calm and acceptance. He had been given a prognosis of four to six weeks to live, and in that time, he had made arrangements to spend quality time with his loved ones. His daughter, Sarah, who lives in the UK, flew in to visit him, and he also made sure to eat his favorite Indian curry, which Wambui had prepared for him.
As the days went by, Bob's focus shifted from enjoying life to preparing for his death. He cleared his desk, making sure everything was in order, and even arranged his computer and keyboard neatly. Wambui recalls that he was very clear about what he wanted to achieve in the time he had left, and they sat down to discuss their plans for the future.
One of the most poignant moments Wambui shared was when Bob told her that he had spoken the truth to journalist Jackson Biko during an interview, but that it would only make sense to him after he was gone. He smiled as he said this, and Wambui remembers feeling a sense of peace wash over her.
As the night of his passing approached, Wambui and her family waited anxiously. They had played soft jazz music in the room, which Bob loved, and the children had said their goodbyes earlier. Just before 2 am, Bob asked Wambui to remove his oxygen mask, and as he turned to the nurses in the room, she knew he was trying to convey a message of gratitude. With his final breath, he told Wambui what he needed to say, and then he was gone.
