This archive report was first published on 4 July 2019.
On Thursday, a eulogy service was held at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi to honor the late Safaricom CEO, Bob Collymore, who passed away in June 2019.
Published on July 4, 2019, the service saw numerous speakers share their best memories of Collymore, highlighting his impact on their lives.
President Uhuru Kenyatta spoke fondly of Collymore, recalling a phone call they had three weeks prior to his passing, in which Collymore expressed his desire to step down as CEO.
Deputy President William Ruto praised Collymore for his exceptional leadership, citing his ability to run the most profitable enterprise in Kenya without a university degree.
Collymore's widow, Wambui, remembered him as someone who left when the applause was loudest.
Other notable speakers included Peter Kenneth, a close friend of Collymore's, who shared a special bottle of whiskey with him on their last meeting; Nicholas Nganga, Chairman of Safaricom, who described Collymore as 'perfectly imperfect'; and Patrick Quarcoo, CEO of Radio Africa, who recalled Collymore's words on the afterlife.
Michael Joseph, CEO of Safaricom, praised Collymore's bravery and sense of humor, while Alice Chepkorir, a Form Four student at the M-Pesa Foundation Academy, shared her father-daughter relationship with Collymore.
Charles Msandu, a member of staff at Safaricom, remembered Collymore as a champion for his inclusive nature, and Nick Read, CEO of Vodafone, described Collymore as an exceptional human being.
Esther Muchemi, Chairlady of Safaricom dealers, praised Collymore for his stance against corruption, and Joshua Chepkwony, a representative of the Telecommunications Community, remembered Collymore's ability to leverage synergies.
