Kenyans woke up to sad news of the passing of Safaricom Chief Executive Bob Collymore in wee hours of Monday morning.
Confirming his demise Safaricom Chairman Nicholas Nganga said Collymore succumbed to Accute Myleiod Lukemia at his home.
The Safaricom CEO who leaves behind a wife and four children has been instrumental in building Safaricom into East Africa’s most profitable company with over 30 million mobile service subscribers.
Collymore’s contract was extended in 2015 and recently in 2017.
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However, his latest stint at Safaricom has not been the smoothest because he had to take a break for health reasons.
During his tenure, Safaricom’s share price increased by more than 400 percent to 28.00 shillings.
Safaricom, which is 35 percent owned by South Africa’s Vodacom, controls about 62 percent of Kenya’s mobile market, with over 30 million subscribers.
Collymore will be remembered for among others his campaign against regulatory efforts to clip the company’s wings due to its dominant size in the controversial interoperability motion.
Under his stewardship Safaricom has been ranked as East Africa’s most profitable company thanks to the popular mobile money transfer service M-Pesa and a growing customer base.
Meanwhile, more tributes continue to pour in following the death of Collymore on social media.
Baringo Senator Gideon Moi, eulogized him as a corporate leader par excellence who had profound impact on the lives of Kenyans through the telecommunications sector.
Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula said Collymore exemplified the greatness and humility of a successful entrepreneur.
ANC Leader Musalia Mudavadi in his eulogy said the Mudavadi Memorial Foundation Trust Fund would forever be indebted for the support received from Collymore towards advancing Education, Health and Socio-Economic Development to various communities.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka termed Collymore as a man with a brilliant work ethic and attitude who greatly cared for his staff at Safaricom and steered the company to touch many lives.
Bob Collymore was born in 1958 in Guyana, South America.
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