Murkomen: The Sh700m man with a taste of the finer things of life

Former Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Terminal 1 to inspect roofing project to avert leaking. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

The entry of Kipchumba Murkomen into Transcom House was full of gaffes. His experience as a two-term senator did not help either. His opulence, which he expressed with a humblebrag undertone, echoed louder than his work.

From expensive shoes that he revealed to cost about Sh80,000, a Sh50,000 belt, and a Sh900,000 watch; he never hid it. But while his justification made sense, it irked taxpayers.

“When you buy a Sh50,000 belt, get one that is interchangeable –black on one side and brown on the other. That way, people think you have two different belts. And it is quality,” he said during an online show interview.

His finer taste of things life has to offer was also seen in his office cutlery as well. As witnessed during a press briefing in his office, his teaspoons were gold-plated.  

Murkomen had just been elected for the third time as senator for Elgeyo Marakwet County before President William Ruto saw it fit to have him as his Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS). He resigned his senate position.

Barely two years later, Murkomen, whose other name is Onesimus, which means ‘useful’ in Greek, was rendered not so (useful) by the Head of State when he fired his entire cabinet. His position is now set to be occupied by Davis Chirchir, who was also fired as the Energy CS.

Agreeing to be a CS after successfully defending his Elgeyo Marakwet seat was his first gaffe. He made several during his tenure: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport(JKIA) leaking roof, several power outages at the same airport, Kenya Airways pilots’ strike, the push to introduce toll roads, unchecked road crashes for the better part of 2023, board room wrangles at National Transport and Safety Authority(NTSA), Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) allocation row and the controversial road levy hike.

When Murkomen came into office, he presented himself as the man who had all the needed answers to matters of road and transport – Sh700 million – and he was never afraid to drop this figure whenever natters cost was raised.

When anti-government protests rocked the country in 2023 and opposition-allied protestors vandalised Nairobi Expressway at Mlolongo, he said it would cost Sh700 million to repair. During the launch of Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) 2023-2027 strategic plan launch, he said the Government needs Sh700 million to put up toll stations on some of the roads as a revenue-raising measure. There was Sh700 million bonus payment to Kenya Ports Authority(KPA) employees and Sh700 billion to complete road projects started by the previous Uhuru-Ruto government.

Kenyans did notice this figure and even made memes about it which he only responded with a laughing emoji.

Murkomen’s short tenure has, however, not been a laughing matter. Just a month after he took office in September 2022, he received baptism by fire when Kenya Airways(KQ) pilots went on strike. His default mode as a lawyer and lawmaker was awakened backing his arguments with court orders, which seldom works when it comes to workers’ strikes.  

“We respect the views and the concerns of the pilots. We believe they went about it the wrong way. The government is willing to listen to the issues they are raising but let us listen to it through the law by first stopping the strike, coming to the table, and negotiating because that is the law. We cannot act illegally,” he said noting that KQ was losing Sh300 million daily as a result of the strike.

A month later, in December, JKIA was hit with another power blackout that had him step in to inquire why the backup power generator did not kick in on time. It was the third one since he took office. He said he has consulted with the Kenya Airports Authority(KAA) and Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and gave an assurance that such will not happen again. He said the new system provides for a 15-second transition time.

He set up an 11-member committee and even insinuated sabotage. In August 2023 when it first happened, the then CS had fired KAA Managing Director Alex Gitari.

JKIA woes extended to a leaking roof that first came into the limelight in November 2023 and forced the management of KAA to replace it after several temporary repairs.

According to Murkomen, the best way to manage the embarrassment of JKIA is to put up a new terminal. This new terminal is expected to increase passengers at JKIA from 12 million annually to 30 million.

The turbulence in KQ and JKIA followed Murkomen on the road as he found himself firing some NTSA board members in June 2023 just a month after he had inaugurated them to office.

At the function that took place at NTSA offices, he spoke of how Kenyan drivers are half-baked giving the board the mandate of finding ways to curb road crashes. He pronounced several changes to motorists’ training saying drivers who fail re-test have to enroll afresh in driving schools for fresh training.

He even picked a fight with digital taxi companies threatening them with deregistration if they did not comply with the regulations set by the government on commissions and unapproved charges to drivers anchoring his stance on the law.

“You are not allowed to use the backdoor with let’s say administration charges or booking fees. The law exists and now it is about enforcement,” he said in May 2023 during the launch of Yego, an online taxi-hailing firm.

Murkomen’s migraine on road transport, however, has been how to raise money for repairs and new projects. When he came into office he vehemently stated that the government had no money to start or finish Uhuru-Ruto road projects throwing in the sh700 billion figure.

His last act as the CS was to allow the increase of Road Levy from Sh18 to Sh25 per litre of fuel going back on his word during a public participation forum. At this function, he explained how Kenyans have detailed the ripple effect of the Sh7 increase to other sectors which will make the cost of living go higher.