Fashion entrepreneur Bolo Bespoke has come out strongly to defend himself after a section of netizens accused him of bragging, following viral photos showing him receiving a luxurious Ksh10 million car as a surprise gift from his wife.
Taking to his Instagram page on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, the flamboyant designer did not hold back as he addressed the backlash head-on, reminding critics that his success story has been in the public domain for years.
He stated that the same people now questioning his joy and calling him boastful had once celebrated his resilience when he used to hawk sugarcane on a mkokoteni along Jogoo Road a decade ago.
“Yaani, the whole world knows my story. The entire country knows how I used to suffer 10 yrs ago selling sugarcane in my Mkokoteni along Jogoo Rd.,” Bolo said.
He maintained that the journey from pushing a cart to being driven in a multi-million-shilling machine was not one he took for granted, and therefore, those mocking his celebration were choosing to ignore the depth of his hustle.
According to him, embracing the fruits of his labour unapologetically was part of owning his growth, and he sarcastically declared that if being proud of his achievements qualified as arrogance, then he had no choice but to accept the new title of “Mr Show Off.”
“I was selling sugarcane in my Mkokoteni along Jogoo Rd., and then there is somebody out here telling me that I should stop showing off, weeeh.”
He further added that he had not even begun to unveil the full extent of his blessings, urging detractors to pull up a chair and watch closely, as there was still more to come.
“This one you must know, just the same way you knew about the mkokoteni; in fact, my new name is Mr Show Off,” Bolo added.
Nonetheless, Bolo Bespoke stood firmly by his stance, underlining that his transformation from a roadside vendor to a celebrated personality was a journey worth shouting about – and that those who truly understood struggle would never call it showing off.
“My new name is Mr Show Off. Hii hakuna kuhepa. Vuruteni kiti juu bado sijaanza btw.”
His comments have since sparked widespread debate, with some fans rallying behind him for boldly embracing his past while others continued to question the motive behind displaying his lavish lifestyle so openly.
Multimillion gift
The car gift arrived on Sunday, June 15, 2025, as the world celebrated Father’s Day.
It was gifted to him by Mueni, his partner, in a heartfelt surprise that left the city designer overwhelmed with emotion.
The gesture, which involved a brand-new Ksh10 million Toyota Land Cruiser, was captured in a touching video that has since gone viral across social media platforms.
Mueni later addressed the public response in a clip posted on Monday, June 16, firmly dismissing suggestions that she had funded the luxurious gift using their joint business savings.
“It is not a prank. The car cost ten million. It is my money. You cannot surprise someone using their own money.”
She clarified that the purchase was both deliberate and entirely financed from her own resources.
She made it clear that the intention was not to spark controversy, but rather to honour her husband in a manner that felt personal, significant, and deserving of his efforts as both a father and a partner.
At the same time, Mueni explained that she had weighed several options before settling on the Land Cruiser, avoiding more flamboyant alternatives like a Range Rover due to her recent investment in a fashion store.
“I did not want to buy you a Range Rover because I just opened the store recently. If I had bought a phone, it would be too basic. A house? We already have one. So I decided to add a car. He really loves cars, and I just wanted to do this for him,” Mueni said.
Despite that, she maintained that the gift still carried the weight of gratitude and admiration she intended to express.
