Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen has set the record straight regarding some of his prized possessions that have become a matter of public interest following their expensive retail prices.
The CS was speaking on the Oga Obinna Show on Monday, July 8, stating that Kenyans had extremely exaggerated the cost of his items, such as his watch and shoes.
Murkomen was asked how much his watch cost, stating it was one of the most expensive things he had ever purchased with his own money and that he had to part with KShs 900,000. He defended himself saying that he got the watch from one of his friends who deals in the trade, and got a good deal at the same time.
“The price of the watch I wear is very expensive to say the truth. But it is not worth the price of what people are speculating about on social media. And it is because it was sold to me by my friend,” Murkomen said in the interview.
“There are two watches that have gone viral on social media. The first one I bought, it was not as expensive as they said and the second one a friend of mine, came to me, because he saw the other on social, and said ” I sell watches, do you want me to sell you Rolex?’ and I said yes, why not. He sold it to me at a third (30 per cent) of the price being claimed on social media. He even gave me time to pay in instalments,” he added.
His other priciest possessions include shoes retailing between KShs 70,000 to KShs 80,000, a belt ranging from Kshs 40,000 to KShs 50,000 and a collection of ties ranging from Kshs 15,000 to Kshs 20,000.
“I don’t have to wear two belts in two years; one belt is enough. Just buy one belt for Sh50,000 that is quality and which has black and brown sides that you can alternate when wearing,” he said.
He addressed the concerns of Kenyans who found his lifestyle extremely opulent, assuring them that he would shun the luxuries and focus solely on his key mandate as a public servant.
“I appreciate the comments that have come from Kenyans asking why are you wearing expensive watches and shoes. And it is true. Had invested it in the money markets to buy bonds, maybe it would have earned interest,” he said.
“I want to tell all Kenyans who faulted me for wearing those watches that that is my weakness and I am willing to correct myself. If a watch or shoe is going to distract the people I serve from the key things that I must be held accountable for, I have said to my friends that the watches can stay.”
In February 2023, Kenyans were keen to notice Murkomen donning a Hublot Classic Fusion Ceramic King Gold watch.
The specific Hublot model starts from just over a million according to the watchmaker’s website, and the prices increase with size. The priciest watch in the series 45 millimetres costs around KSh1.6 million.
During the vetting of Cabinet Secretaries, Murkomen declared that his net worth was worth KShs 550 million.
