CS Murkomen brushes off criticism over performance

Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has pushed back against accusations questioning his performance in government, branding the criticism as politically charged.

Addressing concerns raised during his tenure as Transport CS, including complaints about leaking airports and halted infrastructure projects, Murkomen argued that many of the grievances are either overstated or fueled by political agendas.

He further pointed out that a small faction of people continues to look for faults in his leadership, highlighting that since his reassignment from the Roads portfolio, accusations of ineptitude have significantly diminished.

"Since I moved on from the Roads docket, you’ll observe that discussions around incompetence have quieted down regarding the new CS," Murkomen remarked.

Murkomen stated that a select group of individuals continuously seeks flaws in his leadership across different portfolios.

He also noted that, despite no longer holding the Roads docket, some continue to label him incompetent in his new role as CS for Interior.

"Statistics indicate a decline in crime since I took over as CS for Interior, yet a segment of people still claims that crime is on the rise," he remarked.

Despite the continued criticism, CS Murkomen emphasized that he has stepped away from active politics and is fully dedicated to fulfilling his responsibilities.

"I am here to serve and to carry out the mandate entrusted to me by the people of Kenya," he affirmed.

Kipchumba Murkomen also responded to criticism regarding his personal fashion choices, especially his preference for designer shirts and bold clothing, calling the scrutiny unjust.

"Why am I being singled out for wearing shoes and shirts? Others wear the same clothes," he remarked.

In a 2024 interview with Obinna TV, Murkomen acknowledged owning one of his priciest watches, which is valued at Sh900,000.

He also shared that his most expensive shoes are priced between Sh70,000 and Sh80,000, and he owns a belt valued between Sh40,000 and Sh50,000.

While serving as Cabinet Secretary for Roads, Murkomen faced public criticism after a video surfaced showing a leaking roof at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

The incident, which impacted the Cargo Section and Terminal 1C, caused disruptions and led to significant backlash.

In response, the CS ordered the swift installation of gutters to manage rainwater and explained that the leaks were due to the aging infrastructure.

He also reassured the public that construction was already in progress to resolve the issue and promised that a modern roofing solution would be in place within a month to prevent any future disruptions.