Caleb Hamisi and fiancee Whitney Sang fiancee in Kurgung’ village, Nandi County during their pre wedding PHOTOS BY MICHAEL OLLINGA
A suitor in the remote village of Kurgung’ in Nandi County has hit village headlines after parading 60 fuel guzzlers to a dowry negotiation also known as Koito.
Caleb Hamisi, whose choppper caused a stir at a rally after rowdy youth hanged on it as it lifted off the ground in May, tagged along more than 300 guests.
Hamisi who was seeking Whitney Chemutai’s hand in marriage was accompanied by among other guests the vocal Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter.
The 28-year-old who unsucessfully vied for the Saboti parliamentary seat in 2013 had his guests booked in five separate hotels in Eldoret town with his security team forming a ‘bubble’ around him, regularly conversing in walkie-talkies.
“I have known Whitney for five years now. We agreed to make our engagement party remarkable. But I wanted to throw in additional surprises for her and her family. It is an event that takes place once in a life time,” he says, directing bouncers to organise the fleet of cars.
For the two days his family and guests stayed at the hotel, Hamisi spent Sh1.2 million plus a breakfast budget of Sh450,000. This might be pocket change for a man who claims his diversified businesses in farming, supplies, hospitality, real estate and logistics coughs around Sh10 million a month.
The budget handed to us by a member of the event’s secretariat shows Sh890,000 was used for hiring and fuelling vehicles that ferried family and friends from his Kiungani home to Eldoret before proceeding to Nandi where the event took place.
“We used Sh140,000 for Whitney’s dress, shoes and other accessories. Some more money was spent on her friends’ clothes. Parents are very important people in society which is why they should be recognised for raising up good wives for men like us. That is why, in my case, I set aside Sh2 million as a token of appreciation,” he said.
After the main event, guests were treated to a pre-wedding party held at the famous Club Signature in Eldoret. Here people imbibed drinks of their choice to their fill at a cost of Sh470,000.
Over Sh365,000 was used to pay entertainers that included Webuye International Band, church choirs and local comedians.
Another Sh490, 000 was used to hire public address systems andphotography. The organising committee had until the day of the event used Sh620,000.
The man also spent Sh1.95 million on gifts for family members to take to their in-laws, engagement gifts included and a token of appreciation for Whitney’s family members.
“The whole event cost slightly above Sh13 million. I think it was very successful. Our eyes are now trained to our grand wedding next year.
“We have sent invitation letters to dignitaries and attendance confirmations are streaming back real good,” said Hamisi, who claims he will invite South African politician Julius Malema as the chief guest at his wedding.
His life story is as gripping as it is interesting.
“I don’t know my parents. In fact I was raised by my grandmother who taught me to rise above the tides of life through education. I sat for my Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) where I was the second best student in Western region,” he revealed.
After University, Hamisi says he taught at a local High School in Vihiga before moving to Nairobi where he worked as a casual labourer in different companies. He would later resolve to establish his own company.
“I currently own Mudom Investment Company which deals in supplies and Freight management. I am a director of Orion Real Estate Company and proprietor of White Lounge Club in Sandton in South Africa.
I also do dairy farming in my Kitale farm and and all these give me at Sh10 million a month,” he the told The Nairobian.
-sde.co.ke
