Even with news of his impending exit from East Africa's largest telecommunication company, Safaricom, Chief Executive Bob Collymore was on Wednesday given a new assignment by government.
Through a Gazette notice, Heath Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki appointed Mr Collymore with three others to serve in National Cancer Institute Board for the next three years.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 6 (2) of the Cancer Prevention and Control Act (2012), the Cabinet Secretary (Sicily Kariuki) appoints David Makumi, Mercy Oburu, Bob Collymore and Evangeline Njiru,” the Gazette notice reads.
Also appointed to the board are Kenya Network of Cancer Organisations (KENCO) chairperson David Makumi and Mercy Oburu, the Digital Content Manager at Royal Media Services, which owns Citizen TV and a number of radio stations.
Last week, it emerged that the British would leave Safaricom in August due to health conditions. He has been battling cancer and he's yet to be declared a survivor.
A source within Safaricom revealed that Collymore has already made his decision. Government of Kenya wants him replaced by a Kenyan. The government owns 35 percent of shares, jointly with South Africa's Vodacom.
“He wants to concentrate on his health so he did not wish to renew his contract,” said one of them, speaking on condition of anonymity as there has been no official announcement.
He replaced Michael Joseph, who at one time was appointed Chancellor for Maseno University by retired President Mwai Kibaki. The company announced Sh64 billion profits this week.