NAIROBI, Kenya — During a sombre memorial service held at CITAM Nairobi on Saturday, December 27, 2025, People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua revealed that the late Cyrus Jirongo had expressed significant fears regarding his personal safety in the weeks leading up to his death.
Karua informed mourners that Jirongo was not only aware of potential threats but was actively taking steps to bolster his protection when the fatal road accident occurred. The timing of the crash, she suggested, has left a cloud of uncertainty over the circumstances of his passing.
“Cyrus had concerns about his safety. He was actually making arrangements to better secure himself. This accident came before that time. So those questions will linger,” Karua stated.
Reflecting on a friendship that spanned several decades, Karua described Jirongo as more than a political colleague, but a “brother.” She recounted their first meeting, which occurred long before Jirongo entered the political arena, during a moment that defined his generous character.
“We are here to honour a friend and a brother. I met Cyrus before he started, before his entry into politics. And in line with his character, he had come to the courts to bail out a friend, now a big shot in government,” she recalled.
Despite often sitting on opposite sides of the political aisle, Karua in the opposition and Jirongo in government, their professional collaboration remained steadfast.
“He was in government. We were in the opposition. But that did not stop our collaboration. We’ve collaborated with Cyrus in many political seasons,” Karua added, noting that they had recently been discussing future partnerships for upcoming political cycles.
Cyrus Jirongo passed away on Saturday, December 13, following a high-impact collision on the Nairobi–Nakuru highway. On Wednesday, December 17, family pathologist Dr. Joseph Ndung’u released the results of a comprehensive postmortem examination, confirming that the cause of death was massive internal trauma.
“As a result of our examination, we formed an opinion that the late Cyrus Jirongo died as a result of a crush injury to the chest, abdomen, and also a spinal injury due to blunt force trauma,” Dr. Ndung’u explained.
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The examination detailed extensive injuries, including multiple fractures to the limbs and catastrophic damage to the thoracic region. The report noted that his spinal cord was completely severed at the thoracic level, alongside significant trauma to the heart and major blood vessels.
Beyond the politics and the tragic circumstances of his death, speakers at the service remembered Jirongo for his philanthropy and commitment to social improvement. Karua concluded her tribute by highlighting his impact on the broader community:
“We say farewell to a person who had a large heart, generous, who saw people for who they are, a person who not only loved the Mulembe Nation, but humanity, and who always thought of how he could improve on what was there.”
