DRIVER ACCOUNTS DIFFICULTY IN SAVING JIRONGO'S LIFE

The driver of the Climax Coaches bus involved in a head-on collision with former Lugari MP Cyrus Shakhalaga Khwa Jirongo’s Mercedes-Benz has spoken, revealing the moments that led to the fatal early-morning crash along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway.

Speaking shortly after the accident, the 52-year-old Kamau Githinji narrated that Jirongo had been attempting to overtake vehicles stuck in traffic before ramming into the oncoming bus.

“I have been working for this company for nearly eight years, and today’s accident involved my bus and a Mercedes. The Mercedes was coming from a petrol station,” he said.

According to him, the former lawmaker was alone in the ill-fated car, driving towards Nairobi, when he opted to use the opposite lane to bypass a traffic snarl-up. Unfortunately, the lane was occupied by vehicles heading to Nakuru — among them, his bus.

“He decided to overlap and come my way. I tried to avoid him, but there was nowhere to escape. If I swerved, my bus could have rolled. I stopped, and he rammed into my vehicle,” the visibly shaken driver recounted.

The bus had 65 passengers on board heading to Busia. None of the passengers suffered life-threatening injuries, though several were treated for shock. Jirongo, however, died on the spot.

Images from the scene showed the mangled wreck of the white Mercedes-Benz with its front crushed, windscreen shattered, and tyres flattened — evidence of the forceful impact.

Kenya woke up to the tragic news of the death of a man who, for more than three decades, stood at the intersection of business, politics, and power. Cyrus Jirongo, 64, was a name synonymous with influence — loved and loathed in equal measure, but impossible to ignore.

The accident occurred around 3:00 a.m. in the Karai area of Naivasha, a known black spot. Traffic police from Naivasha Station confirmed the death and immediately began investigations. His body was later transferred to the Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi, where family, friends, and politicians streamed in to pay their respects.

Born on March 21, 1961, in Kakamega County, Jirongo first came to national attention in the early 1990s as the fiery leader of the Youth for KANU ’92 (YK’92) movement, a campaign machine credited with mobilizing young voters for President Daniel arap Moi’s re-election.

He would later serve as Member of Parliament for Lugari Constituency, first elected in 1997, and later appointed Minister for Rural Development in 2002 during Moi’s final year in office.

Throughout his career, Jirongo’s political style was defined by confidence, money, and an ability to read Kenya’s shifting political winds. He would later be part of various coalitions, contest for the presidency in 2017, and remain an influential voice in Western Kenya’s politics.

Despite periods of political isolation, he was known as a sharp negotiator and financier — a man who bridged business and politics and mentored many upcoming leaders.

President William Ruto led the nation in mourning, describing Jirongo as “a fearless mobilizer, a pragmatic leader, and a patriot who believed in the power of young people.”

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said Jirongo’s death had robbed the country of “a visionary who played a key role in shaping the political consciousness of Western Kenya.”

KANU Chairman Gideon Moi remembered him as “a bold and outspoken leader whose contributions to the country’s democratic journey will never be forgotten.”

Political analysts and friends described him as a man of contrasts — powerful yet personable, controversial yet charming. Many recalled his generosity, his investment in agribusiness and real estate, and his mentorship of youth leaders across the country.

At the Lee Funeral Home, mourners shared stories of a man who always spoke his mind and refused to be silenced by shifting political tides.

Police investigations are underway to establish the exact cause of the crash. Early reports indicate that Jirongo may have been attempting to overtake when the collision occurred.
Traffic officers are examining vehicle speeds, the state of the road, and whether fatigue played a role.

The driver of the bus, though traumatized, is cooperating with investigators. He told reporters that he is haunted by the incident but insists he had no chance to avoid the impact. “I tried to save him,” he said quietly, “but there was nothing I could do.”

Meanwhile, Jirongo’s family, led by his wife and children, is making funeral arrangements in consultation with the government and political allies. His body is expected to lie in state briefly before being transported to his Kakamega home for burial.

Cyrus Jirongo’s story mirrors Kenya’s political evolution — from the single-party era through the struggle for multiparty democracy, to the coalition politics of today.
He was among a generation of leaders who blended business acumen with political daring, leaving a mark on both the economy and the ballot.

Analysts note that his death closes a chapter of Western Kenya’s old-guard politicians who shaped the country’s democratic transition in the 1990s.

As night falls over the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway where his life ended, Kenyans have lost one of the most consequential politicians who rose from a youthful campaigner to a towering political figure — one whose life, with all its triumphs and controversies, will be remembered as part of Kenya’s rich political story.

Condolences to friends, family and Kenya at large.