Tragic End for Political Firebrand: Ex-Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo Dies in Fiery Naivasha Crash
Former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, a prominent Kenyan politician and businessman, lost his life in a devastating head-on collision on the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway near Karai, Naivasha, early Saturday morning.
The accident, which occurred around 3 a.m., involved Jirongo’s Mercedes Benz slamming into a 45-seater Climax Coaches bus, leaving him dead at the scene while injuring the bus driver and several passengers.
Naivasha DCIO Isaac Kiama and Rift Valley Traffic boss Sarah Chumo confirmed the incident, noting Jirongo was traveling alone to his rural home in Lugari, Kakamega.
This reports highlight the crash’s severity, with both vehicles mangled beyond recognition due to high speed and possible morning fog reducing visibility.
Emergency responders rushed the injured to nearby hospitals, and police are investigating potential causes like excessive speed on the busy route.
Traffic flow was disrupted briefly as authorities cleared the wreckage, underscoring ongoing road safety concerns in Kenya.
The impact left his car extensively damaged and Jirongo was pronounced dead at the scene.
Several passengers in the bus were also injured and were rushed to nearby hospitals in Naivasha for treatment.
Jirongo’s Storied Political Journey
Jirongo burst onto the national stage in 1992 leading Youth for KANU ’92 (YK’92), a controversial group backing President Daniel arap Moi amid multiparty election tensions.
Elected Lugari MP in 1997 under KANU and appointed Minister for Rural Development, he lost in 2002 but reclaimed the seat in 2007 via his Kenya African Democratic Development Union (KADDU) party, serving until 2013.
His career featured high-profile interviews, like a 2012 Cheche appearance defending YK’92 against corruption claims.
Beyond politics, Jirongo built a business empire in real estate and trading through firms like Sololo Outlets and Offshore Trading Company, though plagued by massive debts exceeding KSh 40 billion from unpaid loans to collapsed institutions like Postbank Credit.
Properties, including Nairobi land parcels used as collateral, faced auctions to recover funds, marking a turbulent financial legacy.
Aged 64 at his death, Jirongo’s life reflected Kenya’s blend of political ambition and economic highs and lows.