Safaricom CEO Collymore Knew He Had Less Than a Month to Live, His Friend Jeff Koinange Says

Safaricom CEO Collymore Knew He Had Less Than a Month to Live, His Friend Jeff Koinange Says

Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore knew he had less than a month to live, one of his closest friends has disclosed.

Collymore succumbed to cancer on Monday morning at his home in Nairobi at the age of 61.

“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing away of Robert (Bob) William Collymore CEO of Safaricom PLC which occurred at his home on the morning of July 1, 2019,” Safaricom announced in a statement on Monday.

Kenyan journalist Jeff Koinange, a close friend of Collymore, said he had a chance to share his last moments with him.

Speaking on Citizen TV's Day Break show, Koinange said Collymore’s doctors had already advised him against making long-term plans.

“On Saturday I was having lunch with my mother and my sister and I told them to give me an hour to go and see my friend Bob. So a group of us of about five we had known this was coming. Bob had informed us so we knew he wouldn’t last very long," said Koinange.

"He had been told by his doctors not to make long term plans. In fact, he had been told by his doctors that if he makes it past July he would be lucky,” added Koinange.

The Citizen TV news anchor also noted that Collymore's health status worsened in the recent weeks and his body was not responding well to treatment.

“I’ve never seen anyone prepared for death as I saw in this man. We had a walk at around 3.pm  and hanged up with him, he was in a bit of pain. His spine was giving him some problem."

"He kept saying I have lived a good life I have some regrets, nobody is perfect am ready now. He didn’t want us to live when we bade him bye,” he said.

Koinange also pointed out that Collymore had requested Safaricom to look for his successor as he would not manage to complete the one-year contract handed to him in May.

“He did inform those in charge to name his replacement, they were in a process of naming a new CEO, he told them that one-year extension they had given he was not going to make it,” Koinanage noted.

Collymore is survived by his wife Wambui Kamiru and four children.

 

Comments

Diana (not verified)     Mon, 07/01/2019 @ 11:44am

We don’t care.
Goodbye and Good riddance.
Bob Collymore helped in election rigging in the 2017 election.

He can pass our greetings to Msando.

Sukuma (not verified)     Mon, 07/01/2019 @ 02:00pm

In reply to by Diana (not verified)

What a stupid, nasty comment Diana. You lack common sense. You fate will be worse than Collimore's. And after you perish, your destiny will be in the devil's den. Mind you Collymore had a family. How do you think they will take your insensitivity.

SUNGWACHA (not verified)     Mon, 07/01/2019 @ 03:47pm

In reply to by Diana (not verified)

You should care. Here is a man who had means, suffering a treatable disease, and still went this early.

Kenya is better because he loved it and it loved him back, even gave him a wife. Hii machungu ya election...achana nayo. Both camps are full of conmen and thieves. Hebu tell me, why was the governor of Kisumu, a millionaire, given harambee money Kes 3.1 million, while Dama is struggling in Homabay on her own to care for county sick children with her time and funds. JUBILEE=ODM=USELESSNESS.

PeaceMaker (not verified)     Mon, 07/01/2019 @ 10:30pm

In reply to by Diana (not verified)

Diana, that is absolutely wrong of you. I have read Mwakilishi for years and your comments are horribly negative and full of bitterness over elections. Now you make a comment that is hurtful to many in Kenya England and Guyana. Somebody father, husband uncle, etc. Many people have benefited from the gifting that God gave this man and personally, I am saddened by his demise. Please seek professional help if need be on that bitterness you spew. It is not good for you and those around, very toxic. Bible advises to rid ourselves bitterness so we do not grieve the Holy Spirit. That wasn't right Diana, but you can always retrace your steps. We all err but we can use to find the right direction. Thanks :-)

njai (not verified)     Mon, 07/01/2019 @ 12:51pm

I don't know what Satan looks like but I believe this so called Diana must be the one, shetani, saitani.👿

Morara Momanyi (not verified)     Mon, 07/01/2019 @ 02:05pm

Diana, I don’t normally comment on anything, but this one is cold hearted and unacceptable. What if it was your family that someone died? Would you like people to say things like you said about him? You should have kept that comment for yourself.

Nani? (not verified)     Mon, 07/01/2019 @ 03:05pm

It takes a special kind of thought process for one to "dance" at another person's grave. Diana, no one has made it out of this world alive....you are no exception. May you live long enough to regret ever uttering those words....it will be good for you.

Mugikuyu (not verified)     Mon, 07/01/2019 @ 03:34pm

In death, Collymore is teaching Kenyans to accept death as part of life. You don't have to force your family into bankruptcy with unnecessary, costly treatments knowing full well your days are numbered. You don't have to die in a plane headed to India going to seek some treatments which you know very well will not pan out. Staying home and taking your last breath in familiar territory maybe more comforting to you and family. RIP.

SUNGWACHA (not verified)     Mon, 07/01/2019 @ 03:51pm

In reply to by Mugikuyu (not verified)

@Mugikuyu
Hapo umenena. We have long ways of accepting that death is the final process of life, and it is coming. Sisi we leave it so smack us into poverty...hata mtu ako 95, bado ameuliwa. Eeei!!! S/he was healthy,blablabla. Aliishi, akazeeka, amekufa...twendelee.

Bob was young: sad. But he did do something on this gadamn earth.

JustMe (not verified)     Mon, 07/01/2019 @ 04:38pm

Fare thee well Bob Collymore. You should Kenyans/Black africans that they can head an organization to success.....

Leave or live??? Waandishi, smh
".....He didn’t want us to live when we bade him bye,” he said......"

Mukimo wa cucu (not verified)     Tue, 07/02/2019 @ 02:04am

You are just focused on spelling like a poor teacher in the village....coming focus on the real message.

Sukari (not verified)     Tue, 07/02/2019 @ 02:44am

R.I.P, fought the battle well. That aside, was this guy not handed a new job in the government just recently? I remember thinking..do we not have some Kenyan guy equally qualified? Sorry, but have to say, he was a little selfish by accepting a contract and a new job knowing well he was on the way out, literally. Just saying! Hiyo pesa will not accompany him nor did he need it as he is RICH, but it was revenue denied someone who could have made good use of it. I am not immune to the sad demise nor blind to his bravado in facing the death, lakini, it is what it is. The real lesson here is that we are all destined to one place in the end and no amount of money will alter that fact, hata uwe nani.

Steve (not verified)     Tue, 07/02/2019 @ 03:36am

there must be something behind this dead man, he predicted his death and said none can live 200yrs, his burial is also secret????

Nani? (not verified)     Tue, 07/02/2019 @ 11:07am

In reply to by Steve (not verified)

The man had incurable cancer and it was in the late stages. What is so hard to predict demise under such circumstances? His wedding was private as well. Do we need to grief endlessly in crowds to feel like we are really sending a loved one off well?

Wololo mayie (not verified)     Tue, 07/02/2019 @ 09:11am

RIP and condolences to his loved ones. Diana’s comment is her opinion which she is entitled to, adding negative responses to it only fuels it.

Maumauagain (not verified)     Tue, 07/02/2019 @ 10:26am

Safaricom is a foreign company that is sucking blood from kenyans, the data plans they have are more expensive than even in the US. Not blaming Bob but death does not nullify some of these facts, trying buying a 1000 KSh credit and see how far it will take you...a youtube clip and your data is gone. Kenyans need to be protected from this kind of greed...safaricom makes billions every quater on the backs of poor Kenyans..this will happen whether Bob is there or not just pointing out a fact. Rest in peace Bob, you seemed to be humble

MjuAji (not verified)     Tue, 07/02/2019 @ 01:46pm

Diana, am not good in expressing myself in English, but let me try. You need to make a retreat at Ocean City, Virginia Beach, Mytle Beach, or any that is near and accessible to you, deep yourself in that tidal wave, and just repent: alone. Sorry to say, if am not wrong...you sound like a bitter Luo. Don't take me wrong, but suffice to say, what benefit did Kenyans gain after Uhuruto won the elections? Thievery! What benefit did Kenyans gain after Raila lost? Nothing! Only NASA flowers getting maimed, hurt, exhausted after throwing stones and scampering for safety, Baby Pendo's and Msando's death, loss of tax-payers money, and now, a selfishly oriented and designed HANDSHAKE. Diana, while lying regretful under the sea, cough and throw up that tribalistic mentality and let the sharks and the dolphins have it for their dinner. Fure kafitha.

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