This archive report was first published on 1 July 2019.
On June 29, 2019, Jeff Koinange, a prominent media personality, had a lunch get-together with the late Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore at his Nairobi home. This was just a few days before Collymore's passing on July 1, 2019.
According to Koinange, Collymore had previously revealed to him and a few close friends that he had been informed by his doctors that he did not have a long time to live. Despite this news, Collymore's spirit remained unshaken, and he was prepared for the end.
“…he had been told by his doctors not to make any long-term plans; in fact he was told if he makes it past July he’ll be lucky. So he knew. I have never seen anyone prepared for death like I did this man,” said Koinange.
During their get-together, Collymore would occasionally experience pain on his spine and get up to stretch before sitting back down to engage with them. Later that evening, he walked them back to their vehicles, and as they left, they promised to visit him again during the course of the week. Unfortunately, they received a call the next morning that he had passed.
Koinange also shared his first encounter with Collymore, which took place when he used to host a TV show at another media house. He initially thought Collymore was a bodyguard to then Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph, but it was later revealed that Collymore was an employee at their Vodacom offices in South Africa.
