Painful! The best of his generation on innovation in the telco world is gone. The grandmaster and custodian of MPESA which unbounded many from financial poverty in East Africa, and gave the world a new basis on what a mobile phone can do! Yes, Kenya’s Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore has died. He died of cancer.
In a statement issued this morning, Nicholas Nganga, Chairman of Safaricom PLC, said:
“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 1 July 2019.
In October 2017, Bob proceeded to the UK to receive treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and returned in July 2018 to resume duties. He had been undergoing treatment for this condition since then in different hospitals and most recently at Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi. In recent weeks, his condition worsened and he succumbed to the cancer at his home in the early hours of Monday 1st July 2019.
On behalf of the Board of Safaricom PLC, we extend our deepest condolences to his family, staff of Safaricom PLC, partners and the nation at large, who he served selflessly and with joy.”
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