President William Ruto expressed his confidence in Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports, Kipchumba Murkomen, during an awards ceremony for athletes in Eldoret on August 15.
Ruto emphasized his belief in Murkomen’s ability to elevate the sports sector to new heights.
Why Kipchumba Murkomen
“Immediately Kipchumba Murkomen was sworn in, I put him on the next plane and told him to go to Paris. I am very confident under your leadership, and having learned in a school in Iten where sports was a big thing, I believe you will lead this ministry to meet the aspirations of the sports fraternity,” Ruto stated.
Murkomen succeeded Ababu Namwamba and joins a line of previous Cabinet Secretaries that includes Najib Balala (2002–2003), Ochilo Ayacko (2003–2005), Maina Kamanda (2005–2007), Esther Murugi (2008–2009), Naomi Shaaban (2009–2013), Hassan Wario (2013–2018), Rashid Echesa (2018–2019), and Amina Mohammed (2019–2022).
Murkomen’s educational background includes attending St. Joseph’s High School in Kitale before transferring to St. Patrick’s High School in Iten, where he completed his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education.
In 2000, he enrolled at the University of Nairobi’s Parkland Campus, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws in 2004. While at university, he was elected chairman of the Fellowship of Christian Unions’ National Students Executive Council.
He later received a scholarship to pursue a master’s in law at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and furthered his studies at the American University Washington College of Law in the United States.
Murkomen as Senator
Murkomen was first elected as the Senator for Elgeyo-Marakwet County in 2013 on a United Republican Party (URP) ticket.
He successfully sought re-election in 2017 on a Jubilee party ticket, serving a second term. Initially elected as Senate Majority Leader in 2013, he was later replaced by West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio in 2020.
