Celebrated former Safaricom Chief Executive Officer the late Robert (Bob) William Collymore has guarded his private life to the grave even as his family authorised a no show of conspicuous presence shortly after ferrying his body at the at the Lee Funeral Home yesterday morning.
He died at his Nairobi home on Monday at dawn after battling Leukemia. He has been receiving treatment at Aga Khan Hospital and in London in the United Kingdom.
As is the norm for friends to converge at the morgue condoling the bereaved family while other family members and friends are allowed to have a body viewing session, yesterday, only close relatives booked in his body and left.
His burial slated for today will also be an invite only ceremony. Aged 61 years, Collymore is survived by his wife Wambui Kamiru and four children. He married Wambui in 2016 in an invite-only ceremony. In sharp contrast, entrepreneurial titan who never shy away from the public, Collymore maintained his private life a closely guarded secret.
President Uhuru Kenyatta led the country in mourning Collymore describing him as visionary and exceptional leader who offered his managerial expertise in pursuit of our national development agenda. In this moment of great sorrow, my thoughts and prayers go out to his family, relatives, friends and the staff of Safaricom.
Bob Collymore was an accomplished corporate leader who steered Safaricom to a position of great admiration as East Africa’s most profitable company. As a country, we’ve therefore lost a distinguished corporate leader whose contribution to our national wellbeing will be greatly missed.” President Kenyatta said.
Deputy President William Ruto pronounced Collymore as a distinguished corporate titan, whose leadership at the helm of Safaricom was commendable.
“He steered the company to new heights and contributed immensely to the evolution of Kenya’s corporate scene. Collymore was exemplary, brilliant and courageous, especially in the manner he battled cancer. Condolences to his family, colleagues and friends,” Ruto said.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga said the former CEO served the country with dedication and sustained Kenya as a communication hub in Africa.
On behalf of the business community, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Richard Ngatia described him as an epitome entrepreneurial success and integrity.
“Kncci values his contribution to the chamber as a patron member which will forever be remembered and celebrated,” Ngatia said.
Chairman of the Council of Governors Wycliffe Oparanya lauded Collymore’s contribution in supporting devolution during the devolution conference and county connectivity initiatives. “It is also during his time that Safaricom grew its partnership with county governments offering different solutions boosting the Public Private Partnerships that have revolutionized how county governments work.” Oparanya said.
During his tenure at Safaricom, the deceased helped make M-Pesa and its associated products a core part of the country’s payment infrastructure and positioning Kenya as a global leader in financial inclusion.
Speaker of the Senate Ken Lusaka and governors led by Nakuru governor Lee Kinyanjui and his Kisumu Anyang Nyong’o were among other leaders who condoled with the family. Baringo Senator Gedion Moi described Collymore as a corporate leader par excellence while his Bungoma counterpart Moses Wetangula said the late exemplified the greatness and humility of a successful entrepreneur.
