Requiem service of Bob Munro held as family, football stakeholders hail departed giant

Requiem service of Bob Munro held as family, football stakeholders hail departed giant

Mathare Youth Sports Association founder, the late Robert Donald Munro has been eulogized as a legend, hero, friend, mentor, a man of integrity, a selfless human being amongst other traits as his requiem service was held Monday at PCEA St. Andrew's Parish in Westlands ahead of his cremation on Tuesday.

The Canadian passed away on Sunday 19th of January at his home in Westlands after a short a long battle with respiratory illness.

The service was awash with tributes to match the might of the fallen philanthropist who was fondly referred to as "Bob." Turn by turn, the condolences poured in to tell how much the late Bob's influence had impacted each and every one of the speakers. 


 

The chilly Monday morning service, was attended by mourners; most of whom donned t-shirts printed with the famous yellow of Mathare United to celebrate the life and times with (of) Bob and the words, “Rest in Peace Bob, forever in our hearts," inscribed.

The church service officiated by the Presbyterian Church of East Africa begun  shortly after 10.30 am, as his remains were wheeled in flanked by his beloved family and friends to the side. The church choir’s rendition of the hymn song, How Great Thou Art, set the tone for the service, in the packed venue.

The late Munro is survived by wife Ingrid, two daughters, two sons and seven grandchildren.

His wife Ingrid spoke of the fallen giant as a loving husband, an amazing human being who loved her and their family till his last breathe in her arms.

His children and grandchildren eulogised him as a loving father who always kept a smile in their faces, being in their corner at all times , showing up for them amongst other  beautiful memories. 

Celebrated  for having engineered the paradigm  shift in the  Football fraternity here in Kenya, through his  MYSA foundation and its  entities  including  Mathare United Football Club, Munro was eulogised as a man of integrity, a selfless human being who although  he rubbed shoulders with the mighty of the land, he associated  himself with the lowly in the society as mirrored by his valiant efforts  to support  the boys and girls of Mathare.

The Nobel Prize nominee devoted his philanthropic work to uplifting the life of the boys and girls in the Mathare Slums paving the way for them to become reputable contributors in the society. 

"There comes a time when we have to learn from our hero Bob Munro  and for sure he has impacted  our lives and we have to celebrate  him because he gave us the platform  and space to discover and mentor our talents from playing  level to coaching  level and we're  celebrating somebody who gave us a lot of options and taught  us a lot about  problem  solving and that's  what  we picked up from him,"interim Haramnbee Stars coach, Francis Kimanzi, who is among the beneficiaries of the deceased benevolence, mourned.

In 2022, Munro was awarded the highest honour in his home country of Canada, the Order of Canada for his philanthropic work that has better the livelihood of people in and around the world. 


Mathare United chairman Bob Munro was among sports personalities awarded during the Jamhuri Day celebrations by President William Ruto on December 12, 2024.
 

The same fate would again befall him when President William Ruto awarded him the honour of the Elder of the Burning Spear in 2024 Mashujaa day celebrations for the same achievements. 

 

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MYSA Robert Donald Munro St. Andrew

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