Isaya Yunge turned heads at his wedding to Charlene Ruto, but it was not just the cream suit doing the talking.
A photo shared by groomsman Andre Awili after the ceremony zeroed in on the groom’s wrist, revealing a rose-gold timepiece with a black dial, Roman numerals and a fluted bezel consistent with a Rolex Day-Date 40, reference 228235.
Andre captioned the post, which showed two wrists in a fist-bump pose: “Groom be Killin it cos it’s his time #time #rolex #amazing.” The top wrist, in a cream suit sleeve believed to be Isaya’s, wore the rose-gold Rolex. The lower wrist, in a black suit, wore a two-tone Tissot with a white dial, believed to be Andre’s.
How much is Isaya’s watch worth?
Rolex has not independently confirmed what Isaya paid for the timepiece, and the exact reference cannot be verified from the photo alone. What is on record is the market value of a watch of this type.
The Day-Date 40 in 18kt Everose gold, ref. 228235-0055, carries an official retail price of $54,200, roughly KSh 7 million at current exchange rates. On secondary-market platforms including Chrono24, the same reference trades for up to $68,500, putting its resale value between KSh 8.8 million and KSh 9 million.
The watch is nicknamed the ‘president’ and has been associated with world leaders and heads of state since its introduction in 1956.
It is produced exclusively in precious metal, with no steel version available. The 40mm case features an 18kt Everose gold President bracelet, a fluted bezel, a full day display at 12 o’clock, a date window at 3 o’clock, and a Calibre 3255 movement offering roughly 70 hours of power reserve. The slate ombré dial fades gradually from grey at the centre to deep black at the edges.
Charlene and Isaya’s lavish wedding
Isaya and Charlene, 33, daughter of President William Ruto, married on Friday, 6 November 2026, at Malaika Beach Hotel in Mwanza, Tanzania.
The event had already drawn attention for its extravagant touches, including a fleet of private aircraft flying guests into Mwanza and a convoy of Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons.
Charlene herself was photographed wearing a two-tone Rolex Datejust alongside a floral cluster diamond engagement ring.
In a separate photo shared by George after the ceremony, Isaya was spotted embracing his new brother-in-law in a white suit and black bow tie, the same rose-gold watch clearly visible on his wrist.
For Kenyans following the wedding online, the timepiece quickly became its own conversation, with reactions split between admiration for the groom’s flex and commentary on the visible display of wealth. As Andre put it in his caption, it was simply Isaya’s time.
