NAIVASHA, Kenya — The Kenyan political landscape has lost one of its most influential and storied figures following the death of former Cabinet Minister and Lugari Member of Parliament, Cyrus Jirongo. The 64-year-old politician was killed in a tragic head-on collision in the early hours of Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the Karai area in Naivasha, Nakuru County.
Rift Valley Traffic Enforcement Officer Sarah Chumo confirmed that the accident occurred at approximately 3:00 a.m. along the busy Nairobi–Nakuru Highway.
Jirongo, who was driving a Mercedes-Benz (Registration KCZ 350C,), was reportedly traveling alone when his vehicle collided with an oncoming 65-seater bus belonging to the Climax Coach company.
Police Report and Eyewitness Accounts
According to the official police report from the Naivasha Traffic Base, Jirongo was navigating a section of the highway near a petrol station when the fatal impact occurred.
“The accident occurred today, 13/12/2025, at about 0300 hrs at Karai area along Nakuru-Naivasha highway. It happened that one Cyrus Jirongo, aged 64 years, was driving motor vehicle reg. No. KCZ 350C, 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 collision with the oncoming motor vehicle reg. KCU 576A, belonging to Climax company, driven by Tiras Kamau Githinji, aged 52 years. As a result of the accident, the driver of KCZ 350C sustained serious head injuries and died on the spot,” the report detailed.
Tirus Kamau Githinji, the driver of the bus which was carrying 65 passengers from Nairobi toward Busia, recounted the terrifying split-second decision he faced.
Githinji alleged that the Mercedes entered the highway from a petrol station and appeared to hesitate before entering his lane.
He noted that swerving to avoid the car could have caused the bus to overturn, potentially killing dozens of passengers.
Tributes from the political divide
As news of the tragedy spread, leaders from across the nation expressed their shock and grief, remembering Jirongo as a charismatic leader and a cornerstone of Western Kenya politics.
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka was among the first to pay his respects, stating:
“Death has robbed us of one of our greatest sons. Rest in peace, Hon. Cyrus Jirongo.”
COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli, a long-time associate, expressed deep personal loss:
“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.”
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Other notable tributes came from National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, KANU Chairman Gideon Moi, and Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, all of whom highlighted Jirongo’s boldness and his indelible mark on the country’s transition to multiparty democracy.
The legacy of a political titan
Born on March 21, 1961, Cyrus Jirongo’s rise to power was meteoric. An alumnus of Mang’u High School (1978–1981), he catapulted to national fame at just 31 years old as the chairman of Youth for KANU ’92 (YK’92).
The group was instrumental in securing President Daniel arap Moi’s victory in the first multiparty elections, and Jirongo’s name became synonymous with the political and financial shifts of that era.
Beyond his role as a powerbroker, Jirongo served as:
- Member of Parliament (MP) for Lugari (1997–2002 and 2007–2013).
- Minister for Rural Development in the final months of the Moi administration.
- Presidential candidate in the 2017 General Election.
Investigations into the crash are ongoing, with the wreckage of his vehicle towed to the Naivasha Police Station. While his body was initially moved to the Naivasha Sub-County Mortuary, arrangements were being made on Saturday morning to transfer his remains to Nairobi for final procedures.
