Jeff Koinange Reveals Unknown Details About Bob Collymore's Heroic Cancer Struggle in Emotional Tribute

Veteran journalist Jeff Koinange moved many Kenyans to tears on 1 July 2025 as he honoured the memory of his late friend and former Safaricom CEO, Bob Collymore, six years after his passing.

Taking to X, Koinange penned an emotional tribute, reflecting on their deep friendship and the legacy Bob left behind.

“My Brother, my Friend, BC — six years on, and your light still shines. We miss your wisdom, your calm, your broad smile, but your legacy lives on…” he wrote, encapsulating the sorrow and admiration shared by many who knew or were inspired by Collymore.

Born in Guyana and embraced by Kenya as one of its own, Bob Collymore served as Safaricom CEO from 2010 until his death in 2019.

Under his leadership, the company became one of Africa’s most successful telecommunications firms. But it was his compassionate, inclusive style of leadership that won him the hearts of Kenyans.

Koinange, visibly moved, recalled Bob’s quiet bravery in the face of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia—a disease that forced Collymore to seek treatment in the UK in 2017 and later at Nairobi’s Aga Khan University Hospital.

“Despite the burning pain from his spine, Bob remained strong—he showed up with a smile and courage,” Jeff noted in his tribute, painting a picture of a man who bore his suffering with remarkable grace.

He passed away on 1 July 2019 at the age of 61. Despite the immense pain caused by his illness, Koinange remembered how Bob never lost his calm or his smile.

He went on to honour Bob’s humanity, writing: “You lived with purpose, laughed with heart, and led with grace.”

The message captured not just Bob’s professional achievements but also the warmth, humour and humility that made him such a beloved public figure.

Kenyans online joined Koinange in marking the anniversary, flooding his post with heartfelt messages and tributes.

@tha_daqchild: “Forever in our hearts ?”

@boboishnjoroge: “Continue resting king.”

@tyronekimenyi: “Well said!”

@sly_pekee254: “Kwani ishafika miaka sita??”

@kamau.sarah: “Gone but not forgotten ❤️❤️”

Collymore is survived by his wife and four children, but his influence continues to be felt across Kenya—both in business and in the personal stories of those who admired his integrity and character.