This archive report was first published on 3 July 2019.
On July 3, 2019, Safaricom announced that it would be closing all its shops countrywide on Thursday, July 4, 2019, between 10:30 am and 2:30 pm, in memory of its former CEO, Bob Collymore.
The closure is a mark of respect for Collymore, who died at his Nairobi home on Monday, July 1, 2019, after a long battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a cancer for which he had been seeking treatment since 2017, locally and in the United Kingdom.
Collymore's body was cremated at Kariokor in Nairobi, in a private ceremony attended by his close family members, invited friends, and a few staff members from Safaricom.
As a tribute to Collymore, Safaricom will also hold a memorial service at the All Saints Cathedral, Nairobi, during which its shops will be closed.
Former CEO Michael Joseph has been named to lead the company in an interim capacity, due to his understanding of operations at the firm where he serves as a board member.