Co-op Bank condoles with Safaricom over Bob Collymore’s death

The late Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore. [File, Standard]

The Co-operative Bank of Kenya has expressed its condolences to a peer in the business sector Safaricom, after the latter lost its CEO Robert (Bob) Collymore Monday morning.

Collymore died at his home in Nairobi at dawn on Monday, a statement from Safaricom revealed. The condolence message was addressed to the company through Board Chairman Nicholas Ng’ang’a.

Below is the condolence message from the Co-operative Bank of Kenya to the Safaricom fraternity:

I wish to send to you our deepest sympathy following the sorrowful news of the untimely death of the Chief Executive Officer of Safaricom PLC Mr. Robert (Bob) William Collymore which occurred at his home today morning.

The cruel hand of death has robbed you, the entire Safaricom Team, the Nation and the global corporate world an accomplished business leader and a resolute advocate of service to the community who inspired and was admired by many.

On my own behalf and that of the Co-operative Bank Group, I wish to convey to you, the family of the late CEO Bob Collymore and the Safaricom fraternity our most sincere condolences and assure you that our prayers are indeed with you.

Bob Collymore bravely fought the illness and I particularly sent him words of spiritual encouragement over the season and we thank God for His mercies upon his life.

It is with profound thanksgiving that we celebrate the life of the late Bob Collymore. We shall be forever grateful especially for the bold and forward-looking innovations that Bob Collymore articulated that enabled Safaricom to achieve the rare feat of delivering two often-competing interests of remarkable commercial success on the one hand, and steadfast commitment to public and community interest, on the other.

As peers and business partners of Safaricom, all of us at Co-operative Bank, a bank that is predominantly-owned by the over 15 million-member co-operative movement, we are deeply thankful to Bob Collymore for our most fruitful partnership that, among other benefits, has been responsible for the globally-acclaimed financial inclusion that Kenya currently enjoys.

It is therefore a difficult yet a sobering moment for all of us as we recall and reflect on the great promise his great leadership held for Safaricom, the Kenyan economy and indeed the whole of humanity.

As you go about the solemn responsibility of leading the Safaricom Team in honouring Bob, we pray that our Almighty God comforts and gives you courage, as His love endures forever.

We encourage you to take comfort in God’s word in Revelation 21:4 that "….. God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow."

Once again, on my own behalf, my family, Board of Directors and the entire Co-operative Bank Group, we sincerely convey to you and the Safaricom Team our deepest sympathy and condolences.

May the Almighty God rest the soul of Mr. Bob Collymore in eternal peace.

Yours

Dr. Gideon Muriuki – CBS, MBS

Group Managing Director & CEO.