Kenya is mourning the sudden death of former Cabinet Minister and Lugari Member of Parliament, Cyrus Jirongo. The veteran politician lost his life in a tragic road accident that occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning, sending shockwaves across the country.
According to reports from sources familiar with the incident, Cyrus Jirongo died at around 3 am after being involved in a serious crash while driving back to his home in Lugari. The news broke quietly at first, but quickly spread as details of the accident emerged.
The fatal crash happened in the Karai area of Naivasha, along the Nairobi–Nakuru highway. This stretch of road is known for heavy traffic and frequent accidents, especially during night hours and early mornings.
Jirongo’s vehicle was involved in a collision with a 45-seater passenger bus. The impact was reportedly severe, and the former legislator was killed on the spot, leaving no chance for emergency response to save his life.
Confirming the incident, Rift Valley traffic enforcement officer Sarah Chumo stated that the vehicle carrying the former MP rammed into the bus. She explained that Jirongo’s car sustained extensive damage as a result of the crash.
At the time of his death, Cyrus Jirongo was 64 years old. He was widely known in Kenya as a seasoned politician, businessman, and influential public figure with a career that spanned several decades.
Jirongo served as Minister for Rural Development during the administration of Kenya’s second President, Daniel arap Moi. His time in Cabinet lasted from March 2002 to December 2002, during a period of major political change in the country.
Before joining the Cabinet, he had already established himself in national politics. He was elected Member of Parliament for Lugari Constituency in 1997 and served until 2002, earning both strong support and sharp criticism, as is common in Kenyan politics.
He later made a political comeback and once again represented Lugari Constituency in Parliament from 2007 to 2013. During these years, he remained an active voice on national issues and local development matters.
Jirongo’s political ambitions went beyond Parliament. In 2017, he surprised many by contesting for the presidency under the United Democratic Party, UDP. His bid did not succeed, but it demonstrated his determination to remain relevant in national leadership.
In that presidential election, he received about 11,000 votes. This figure represented 0.07 per cent of the total votes cast, placing him far behind the leading candidates but firmly recording his name in Kenya’s electoral history.
His most recent major political contest came in 2022, when he ran for the Kakamega gubernatorial seat. Contesting on a UDP ticket, Jirongo lost the race to Orange Democratic Movement candidate Fernandes Barasa.
Following that defeat, Jirongo kept a relatively low profile. He appeared to step back from frontline politics, rarely making public statements or attending high-profile political events.
Despite this quiet period, he had recently returned to political activity. In the weeks before his death, Jirongo openly endorsed DAP-Kenya candidate Seth Panyako in the Malava by-elections.
He also actively campaigned for Panyako in the days leading up to the mini-polls held on November 27, showing that he was still deeply interested in shaping political outcomes at the grassroots level.
News of his sudden death triggered an outpouring of grief from political leaders, trade unionists, and members of the public. Many described his passing as shocking, painful, and difficult to accept.
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka mourned Jirongo with an emotional message, saying, “Death has robbed us of one of our greatest sons. Rest in peace, Honourable Cyrus Jirongo.”
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli also shared his sorrow. He wrote, “This morning, with a lot of shock and sadness, I have learnt of the passing on of Cyrus Jirongo, who was an asset to our community and Kenya. We loved him, but God loved him more. May your soul rest in peace!”
These tributes highlighted the respect Jirongo commanded across different political and social circles, even from those who did not always agree with his views.
His death has once again drawn attention to the dangers of night travel on Kenyan highways, particularly the Nairobi–Nakuru road, which has claimed many lives over the years.
As police continue to assess the circumstances surrounding the crash, Kenyans are left reflecting on a life that ended suddenly and far too soon.
Cyrus Jirongo will be remembered as a bold political figure who never stopped believing in his ideas, even when defeat came his way. His death marks the end of a long and eventful chapter in Kenya’s political story.
