Bob Collymore, the Safaricom CEO who connected with Kenyans

By Duncan Miriri and Omar Mohammed NAIROBI (Reuters) - When Bob Collymore, the CEO of Kenya's Safaricom, wanted to know about his poorest customers, he would catch a local bus or walk around Kenya's slums with a prominent anti-corruption activist. The visits, related to Reuters after Collymore's death from cancer on Monday, epitomised the popular touch that helped make him a household name as he led East Africa's most profitable company. Affectionately referred to as "Bob" by employees, customers and news anchors, the 61-year-old's affable manner and staunch defence of his company in the face of internal corruption and external criticism from regulators made him a colourful character in corporate Kenya's forest of dark suits.

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