Wambui Kamiru Collymore, the widow of the late Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Bob Collymore, has told off the Kenyan media over what she termed as intrusion into her private life.
Wambui was reacting to a story published on the Standard Newspaper with the title “Inside Bob Collymore’s Last Will” on Tuesday.
In the story, the daily revealed that the late Safaricom boss left all the wealth he had acquired in Kenya to her and appointed State House Chief of Staff Nzioka Waita as trustee in the absence of the widow.
But in a series of tweets, Wambui told off the media saying her private life is not newsworthy arguing that there are better stories that the Kenyan media can focus on.
“Since 2016 when my name first appeared in press concerning my private life, I have done some interviews and turned down alot more than I have accepted. Often my interviews are focused on the work I do in the hope that it educates and empowers others. My argument has always been that my personal life is not news worthy, ” she stated.
My argument has always been that my personal life is not news worthy.
— Wambui K. Collymore (@WambuiKamiru) September 15, 2020
Read: I Lost My Sense Of Smell Since Bob Collymore Died – Wambui Collymore Says
Wambui continued, “as I understand it, the job of media is to inform, educate and empower. This is the essence of free press – to enhance critical thought and then to drive positive change.”
“Since the focus is on me again and I still don’t consider myself newsworthy, here are a couple of stories that I wish were national news. These are stories, I would like to see on the front page.”
She went on to share some of the human interest stories that she thinks the media should put on the front pages.
Read Also: “I Continue To Love You” Wambui Says As She Wishes Bob Collymore A Happy 62nd Birthday
“It is not by chance that media is called the 4th Estate. In lieu of a strong opposition, media really should be holding fort,” she said.
“It’s time that the media handed power back to the people. It can only do so if it provides content that informs, educates and empowers. The media can raise consciousness, can fullfil the greatest role in redirecting our country from the bleak future that we are hurrying toward.
“We also don’t have much time to waste. I am not the news. The news is what we are leaving in the dark. Media can determine the future of our country everyday, on that front page by casting light into the dark. On just that one page, media can make or break us as a nation.”
We also don't have much time to waste. I am not the news. The news is what we are leaving in the dark. Media can determine the future of our country everyday, on that front page by casting light into the dark. On just that one page, media can make or break us as a nation.
— Wambui K. Collymore (@WambuiKamiru) September 15, 2020
The Standard had reported that in the event Nzioka Waita, who was Collymore’s friend, became the sole trustee, the late Guyanese businessman’s wealth in Kenya would be split between three entities.
Collymore’s son by his previous marriage James Collymore of UK would get 40 per cent of his wealth while his daughter Sarah Collymore, similarly of UK, would get an equal share of the estate.
Wambui’s children would get 20 per cent of the wealth but only after attaining the age of 18, and in equal shares.
Read Also: Wambui Collymore Speaks For The First Time Since Husband’s Death
Wambui first came into the limelight in 2016 after tying the knot with Collymore in a private affair in Nairobi’s Kitisuru area.
She is founder of The Art Space, an independent commercial art gallery situated on Riverside Drive in Nairobi.
Collymore passed on in July last year after battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia for nearly two years.
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