The longest serving Safaricom CEO Robert (Bob) Collymore is dead. A statement from the telecommunications company reveals that Mr Collymore died at his Nairobi home at 2 am, Monday morning.

The Guyanese-born British businessman died after a valiant battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)- the cancer of the blood, Safaricom statement has revealed.

His rough journey with ill health started when he travelled to the United Kingdom in October 2017 for treatment.  He then returned in July 2018 after which he underwent treatments in various hospitals, including Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi. However, his condition grew worse and he later succumbed after a battle lasting for more than a year.

In May 2019, he was granted one-year extension to oversee company’s revenue sources and leave it in stable condition. Mr Collymore has left behind a wife and four children. He got married to a Kenyan woman Wambui Kamiru upon settling in Kenya as one of country’s top ranked corporate bosses.

Collymore’s wife Wambui Kamiru is the founder of The Art Space, an Independent visual art space.

Prior to his coming to Kenya, Bob Collymore worked in UK. There, he worked for companies such as Cellnet, Dixons Retail, and Vodafone UK before moving to Japan to manage the J-Phone company’s transformation into Vodafone Group.

Awards

In 2012, in the runner-up to the 2013 General Elections, Bob won the Moran of the Burning Spear award, which was given to him by the retired President Mwai Kibaki. Four years later in 2016, the Safaricom boss won an award of African Investor, International Business Leader. A year later, in 2017, Bob won African Investor CEO of the Year award.

His body has been taken to Lee Funeral Home preparations for his burial are in the process.