Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has fired back at critics questioning his taste for high-end fashion items, including watches, shirts, and shoes.
Speaking on Thursday, May 8, Murkomen dismissed the complaints, calling on them to redirect their attention to more meaningful discussions.
He insisted that he is no longer involved in active politics, adding that he is only answerable to President William Ruto.
"The only thing they talk about me is which watch, shirt, or shoe I wear, as if I'm the only one who wears those kinds of things. I want to tell those people to have an objective conversation.
"I am no longer in the political arena; I don’t engage in politics. I work under the directive of President William Ruto,” he added.
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Murkomen has come under public scrutiny on multiple occasions for displaying signs of opulence, particularly through his choice of luxury fashion.
One of the most widely discussed instances involved him wearing a Hublot Classic Fusion Ceramic King Gold watch, a luxury timepiece valued at approximately Ksh2 million.
The watch drew significant public attention, especially online, prompting the CS to clarify that the watch was a gift he acquired at a heavily discounted price.
He also acknowledged owning a Rolex watch but insisted that its cost was far lower than the Ksh4 million figure that had been widely speculated.
"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 installments," he explained.
Additionally, during a past visit to the Kenya Aviation Authority offices at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Murkomen was photographed wearing navy blue Gucci sneakers, which retail for around Ksh131,000.
In addition to watches and shoes, Murkomen has admitted to owning other high-end items, including a belt worth between Ksh40,000 and Ksh50,000 and ties priced up to Ksh20,000.
He also caught attention for using a Montblanc John F. Kennedy Special Edition fountain pen, valued at about Ksh150,000.
Murkomen has been on record defending his lifestyle, attributing it to his personal choices and hard work.
"In this life we're living, there are things that are vanity that you end up buying. I appreciate comments that have come from Kenyans. Had I taken this money to invest in money market, it would have earned it me interest. That is my weakness but I'm willing to correct myself," he said.
