Former Lugari Member of Parliament Cyrus Jirongo has passed away in a tragic road accident at Karai area in Naivasha.
Family and friends say that Jirongo was driving himself to his rural home in Lugari , Kakamega County when his vehicle collided with a Climax Coach bus along the busy Nakuru-Nairobi highway.
Rift Valley Traffic Enforcement Officer Sarah Chumo confirmed the unfortunate incident, stating that it occurred in the early hours of Saturday December 13, at around 3 a.m. She added that Jirongo died on the spot.
His vehicle was extremely damaged in the crash. Police moved his body to a local mortuary, with plans underway to transfer it to Nairobi as investigations continue.
Police report indicate that Jirongo was driving from the Nakuru direction heading towards Nairobi before colliding head on with the passenger bus.
“The accident occurred today, 13/12/2025, at about 0300hrs at Karai area along Nakuru-Naivasha highway. It happened that one Cyrus Jirongo, aged 64 years, was driving motor vehicle reg. No. KCZ 305C make m/benz from Nakuru direction heading towards Nairobi direction, and upon reaching the location of the accident, he failed to keep to its inner lane and collided head on collission with the oncoming motor vehicle reg. KCU 576A, belonging to Climax company, driven by Tiras Kamau Githinji, aged 52years. As a result of the accident, the driver of KCZ 350C sustained serious head injuries and died on the spot,” the report read.
Leaders continue to send in their messages of condolences, mourning the tragic loss of the former MP and standing in solidarity with the bereaved family.
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli in a post shared on X, mourned Jirongo as a valuable figure to the Luhya Community and Kenya.
“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,” Atwoli said.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula expressed shock and sadness following Jirongo’s death. He described him as a trailblazer who left an incredible mark on Kenya’s political landscape especially during the 1990s.
“Am shocked and saddened by the untimely and sadden demise of Hon Jirongo in a tragic accident. He leaves an indelible mark on the political landscape of Kenya as a political trailblazing youth in the 1990s. His family & friends are in our prayers,” Wetangula wrote.
Bungoma governor Ken Lusaka too mourned the death. “Death has robbed us of one of our greatest sons. Rest in peace, Hon. Cyrus Jirongo,” he said in a post.
In 1997, Jirongo was elected Member of Parliament for Lugari Constituency. He however lost it in the 2002 general election but regained it in 2007 under his own party, the Kenya African Democratic Development Union.
He contested the presidency in 2017 under the United Democratic Party but received a very small share of the national vote. His party later joined the Azimio la Umoja coalition ahead of the 2022 elections.
