As everyone writes R.I.P Bob Collymore on their status updates, we at Kachwanya.com wish to join the rest in sending our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and Safaricom staff as they mourn the great Bob. In the next few days we will publish a feature article detailing the achievements and the misses of Collymore, but today we just want to share excerpts from Kenyans who have sent their messages of condolences following the demise of Mr. Collymore.

According to a press statement sent to newsrooms by Safaricom’s Chairman Nicholas Nganga, Collymore passed on in the early hours of 1st July 2019 at his home. The statement reads in full ” 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 in the morning of 1st 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 has 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.

“Bob Collymore leaves behind a wife and four children.

“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.”

Following his death, Kenyans have taken to social media to express their sadness and to also say a word or two of how great the Safaricom CEO was. Here are a few of those words as extracted from Twitter:

My beloved friend CEO Bob Collymore has passed. I extend my deepest condolences to his family and the nation at large.
Thanks for whatever you taught me in business and the gifts you gave me.
Rest In Peace Champ;Victor ludorum. .#MondayMotivaton #JeffAndHamoOnHot #safaricom pic.twitter.com/oEwbw8o3IT

— Hon David Mwangi.?? ?? (@qicymre) July 1, 2019

If there’s a brilliant, intelligent and brave corporate leader we have to remember in the wake of Safaricom in Kenya is Bob Collymore. He’s the icon in the corporate world, He was not born manager, but trained himself to become one. @citizentvkenya @NTVnewsroom @LiveJkl pic.twitter.com/ga22Z8tYIY

— Nuh A. Hassan (@nahma465) July 1, 2019

“It is with deep sadness that I have this morning received news of the death of Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore after years of battling cancer. As a country, we’ve lost a distinguished corporate leader whose contribution to our national wellbeing will be missed” ~ H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta

— State House Kenya (@StateHouseKenya) July 1, 2019

In addition to the thousands almost millions of messages being sent to the family, friends and staff of Safaricom, there are those who think that the recent data hack at Safaricom in which hundreds of Kenyans bought free minutes and data bundles through Safaricom Flex and Safaricom Platinum+ accelerated the deterioration of Bob Collymore’s death, which finally led to his demise.

Check out The seven years of Bob Collymore at the helm of Safaricom