This archive report was first published on 4 July 2019.
On July 4, 2019, the memorial service of former Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore was a celebration of life well lived for a man who had prepared for his death.
Unlike many, Collymore's memorial service was not engulfed with grief, but those who attended the service at All Saints' Cathedral remained calm and collected from the beginning until the end of the service.
Collymore, who was battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia, had come to terms with his days being numbered and spent the last moments of his life with his close friends who were also aware of the situation.
President Uhuru Kenyatta revealed that Collymore had informed him about his worsening medical condition, saying, 'I just wanted to tell you that the promise I made to you that I would cling to the company for another year I wouldn’t fulfill it, I will tell you more once you return.'
Upon return, the President visited Collymore in his home, where he said, 'I found him calm and jovial as always, but he repeated to me that he will have to break his promise.'
Former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth eulogized Collymore on behalf of his friends, revealing that they had a boys' club consisting of about 10 members where Collymore was the captain.
Collymore's memorial was attended by State officials, business leaders, politicians, and other dignitaries, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
