Most people can relate to days when our parents would buy us oversized outfits and tell us to ‘grow’ into them.
This would have either a negative or positive impact on your fashion choices later in life.
Sammy Wamuri, who describes his style as 'sapology lifestyle', had such peculiar beginnings.
His father bought him one trouser that was to be worn for six years.
This instilled in him the urge to own lots of clothes and shoes when he grows up.
His wardrobe has outfits that cost more than Sh1.8 million, which makes him happy.
When the Star visited his Kibera home, he unpacked a white new Versace shirt, which he said cost him almost Sh20,000.
It's a tradition for Wamuri to unveil a new outfit anytime he has visitors. The white shirt had a black logo of Versace.
These are not ordinary clothes. They are purely designer outfits, ranging from shirts, blazers, trousers, T-shirts, hats and even underpants.
Sapeurs are a group of people who wear luxurious designer clothes not to feel proud but to impress themselves.
Wamuri is the only sapeur in Kenya. He got his inspiration from legendary musician Papa Wemba.
Many would question why he lives a lavish life but stays in Kibera, which is a slum.
“I stay here because I like. I have experienced the rich estates but this is where my heart wants me to stay. I have been here for almost 22 years,” Wamuri told the Star during an interview.
The lifestyle also directs that one has to have designer outfits spiced up with a kiko cigar, a walking stick and a Papa Wemba or fedora hat.
The outfits in Wamuri’s closet range from D and G, Dolce Gabana, Versace to Apple.
“I’d rather sleep hungry but wear a shirt worth maybe more than 10,000. It just makes me happy,” he said.
Wamuri, 52 is a family man. He has three children, the youngest one aged six.
“I consult with my kids and they are okay with my lifestyle. In fact, my firstborn daughter gave me a go-ahead,” he added.
When asked where he gets the money to buy such expensive outfits, Wamuri said he is also an 8-5 employee but he works from home.
“I was jobless for almost four years but last year in July, I got a job. I work as a customer care agent in a certain company,” he said.
He works in the customer care field because he can speak French.
Being a sapeur also comes with having a specific outlet for your designer clothes.
Wamuri gets his outfits from Italy, Europe, Paris, London and Turkey. Whenever a new design hits the market, his ‘plugs’ deliver the outfits.
“They send me what is out on catalogue through WhatsApp, and then I choose hats, shoes, shirts. I have a collection that I afford and I stock them,” he said.
Whenever he wears his expensive outfits, he is also supposed to dance a certain way for sapeurs: Viva la musica by Papa Wemba.
“When the music reaches climax, they say, 'Presentez si vous plait,' to mean, 'Show us what you are wearing,'” he said.
This gets Wamuri showing off the brands he is wearing, with fancy walking stick bent to the side and kiko hanging on the left side of the mouth.
He is not supposed to sweat when dancing or when it’s hot, so he always has to walk around with an umbrella.
If he doesn't have an umbrella, he prevents sweating by walking along corridors.
Another bit of style that is common with sapeurs is wearing trench coats. Wamuri has a collection of more than 10.
He said the trench coats also form part of the ‘sape’ dress code.
In Kenya, sapeurs do not have an association or forum where they meet.
However, the sape dress code gave Wamuri an opportunity to be representing Kenya in French-speaking countries.
Whenever he is representing Kenya, he dresses like the sapeur he is.
This lifestyle has landed Wamuri in trouble several times with the Kenyan police.
"I have been arrested many times, thinking I'm Congolese, but I show them my ID card. To me, that's a compliment," he said.
Th 52-year old hails from Seme in Nyanza county.