Kipchumba Murkomen :From Citizen TV Analyst to Ruto Cabinet

From Citizen TV Analyst to Ruto’s Cabinet, the Rise of Kipchumba Murkomen

Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen, first captured the public eye as a political analyst on various occasions hosted by Julie Gichuru on Citizen TV’s ‘Sunday Live’ show in 2012.

His sharp insights in politics and engaging personality made him a well-known figure in the Kenyan media, where he discussed important issues with clarity and confidence.

Viewers were drawn to his ability to articulate complex topics in a way that was easy to understand, solidifying his reputation as a thoughtful commentator.

Kipchumba Murkomen was born on March 12, 1979, in Embubut forest in Elgeyo Markwet County to Reverend Johanna and Margaret.

He is a married to Gladys Wanjiru a union blessed with four children, among them three sons and one daughter.

Education Background

He began his early education at Chawis Primary school located about 10 kilometers from his home.

Upon completing KCPE exams in 1993, Murkomen did not meet his academic target and as a result repeated class 8 at Kapsigilei Primary school and later joined St. Joseph’s High school Kitale.

While in form two at St. Patrick Boys, Murkomen was elected dining hall prefect.

Furthering his studies, the former roads CS studied Law in the University of Nairobi and graduated in 2004 and later from the Kenya School of Law with a Post Graduate degree in the same.

He holds a masters degree from the American University Washington College of Law and from the University of Pretoria in South Africa.

Murkomen landed his first job as an assistant lecturer at Catholic University, where he taught Air and Space Law.

Thereafter, he served Moi University as an instructor and later worked at the University of Nairobi as a consultant aiding in the research topical issues of global interest among them the Global Organization in Human Rights and Environmental Conservation.

Also Read: Murkomen Speaks on Resigning Over Incompetence as Ruto’s Axe Looms

Kipchumba Murkomen’s Career and Politics

In the year 2013, Kipchumba Murkomen was elected Senator for Elgeyo-Marakwet on a United Republican Party (URP) ticket upon the actualization of the 2010 Constitution and the institution of a bicameral Parliament.

Further, in 2015, he was elected Senate Deputy Majority Leader, a position he held until the end of the term of the first Senate.

He was in 2017 re-elected under the banner of the Jubilee Party, and later appointed, by the party, to serve as Senate Majority Leader.

While in senate, Murkomen is credited with sponsoring and the enactment of four bills during his tenure – the Urban Areas and Cities Amendment Bill (2017), the County Allocation of Revenue Amendment (No. 4) Bill (2017), the Intergovernmental (Amendment) Bill, 2014 and the Food Security Bill (2017).

In addition, he served as the first chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Devolution & Intergovernmental Relations.

He also served in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senate Committee on Energy, Senate House Business Committee, Senate Rules and Procedures Committee, the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, Joint Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms, the County Public Accounts Committee and as a member of the Senate Speaker’s Panel.

Moreover, the former Roads CS was re-elected for a third consecutive term in the 9 August 2022 elections on a UDA party ticket.

Also Read: 12 Former CSs Left Out in Ruto’s Final List

Other Places he Has Served

In addition, he has worked at Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK), and Kenya Roads Board (KRB).

Murkomen was appointed Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Roads and Transport on 27 September 2022 by President William Ruto, after a change of administration following the 2022 General Election victory for the United Democratic Movement (UDA).

Additionally, President William Ruto while speaking during his state of the nation address at State house on July 24, 2024, announced the nomination of Kipchumba Murkomen as the Cabinet Secretary for Youths Affairs Creative Economy and Sports.

This came after Ruto dissolved his cabinet, firing all the CSs apart from Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi on July 11 following countrywide youth-led demonstrations demanding accountability from state officers.