Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen has firmly denied rumours suggesting that his Casio G-Shock watch is valued at Ksh400,000.
In an interview on July 9, 2024, Murkomen clarified that his attachment to the watch goes back to his childhood, revealing that he received his first watch in 1991 while in Class Six as a gift from his father to motivate him.
The watch, a Casio model, held sentimental value for Murkomen, leading him to continue the tradition with his current timepiece.
“This is a very expensive watch, it’s a Casio G-shock. According to social media, this watch costs about Ksh400,000, but this is a very important watch according to me. I got my first watch in 1991, I was then in Class Six. How did I get this watch? My father wanted to motivate me because I was always number three and sometimes four,” Murkomen remarked.
“So my father told me if I became number one, he would buy me a watch. I revised, read and became number two. There was a time I read at home, using the tin lamb, and my father told me to go and sleep…akanihurumia and gifted me the watch.”
Why Casio?
Murkomen emphasized the vintage appeal of Casio’s watch and the monumental impact it had on his life, highlighting their enduring popularity and affordability compared to other luxury brands in his collection.
Despite owning other watches, Murkomen expressed a special appreciation for his Casio, which he purchased for Ksh9,000 at an airport. He explained that while the price may be modest, the watch holds significant personal value to him.
“My father bought me my first watch, it was a Casio..not a G-shock then. And so the other day I was on an official trip, and I found this Casio at one of the airports and I bought it, myself,” Murkomen added.
“To remind myself of the first watch I ever wore. This is very important for me, it is a vintage. Even though the amount was like Ksh9,000. But the value in my heart is more valuable than the other watches. Where I bought it was Ksh9,000 but somebody told me it cost about Ksh13,000.”
Figures on social media
Acknowledging the social media buzz surrounding his watch collection, Murkomen revealed that some figures circulating online were exaggerated.
“This one also caused issues on social media but it is cheaper than the other watch…there are two watches that have gone viral on social media. The first one I bought, 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,” Murkomen said.
Further, the CS clarified that some of the estimates given by Kenyans about his watch and shoes are exaggerated. He has been in the eye of a storm for allegedly possessing extremely expensive items.
“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 noted.