This archive report was first published on 4 July 2019.
On July 4, 2019, a memorial service was held at the All Saints' Cathedral in Nairobi to honor the late Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore, who succumbed to Acute Myeloid Leukaemia on July 3, 2019, at the age of 61.
Interim Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph described Collymore as the bravest man he ever met during the service. Joseph had read a poem Collymore gave him a year ago, as they had agreed to read it at the funeral of whoever dies first.
“About a year ago, Bob showed me a poem he found in a book and we agreed that whoever survives the other will read this poem at his funeral. I am very heartbroken to be the one reading this poem today,” Joseph said.
Joseph also revealed that he had started writing a book on his tenure as the CEO of Safaricom between 2000 and 2010, in which he had named a chapter after Collymore, who succeeded him in November 2010.
“I’ll ignore his instructions of just reading the poem and say a few more words. He’d probably be upset but he’d do the same to me. With his encouragement, I started writing a book about my life at Safaricom and so far I’ve written a chapter I called Chapter 33 and I called it Bob. One day you may read it,” he said.
Collymore's fight against cancer revealed his exceptional character, according to Joseph, who added that Collymore was still concerned about the welfare of others as he underwent intense chemotherapy sessions.
“Bob was the bravest man I ever met. He faced the indignities of bounds of injections, blood transfusions, chemotherapy, constant tests and examinations, pain and in the end death with an enormous sense of humor and resilience,” Joseph said.
Collymore's 20-year career in the telecommunications sector was described as inspirational by Vodafone Group Chief Executive Officer Nick Read.
“Bob was an inspiration throughout his global career with our groups which spans 20 years and covered the UK, Japan, South African and of course beautiful Kenya,” Read said.
Read eulogized Collymore as a corporate leader who inspired confidence, saying that he had set his own vision for Safaricom and successfully executed it.
“What I saw under Bob’s leadership can only be described as remarkable, He gradually developed his own vision; a vision that moved from a highly successful telecoms company to a purpose-led digital platform powering the Kenyan economy and improving the lives of everyone in the society,” Read remarked.
