Dramatic Ritual Scenes Erupt at Cyrus Jirongo’s Home as Boni Khalwale Makes Torch-Lit Entrance
Dramatic scenes were witnessed at the home of the late former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo after Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale made a striking and highly symbolic entrance during the final funeral preparations, intensifying debate and speculation surrounding the politician’s death.
The incident unfolded on December 29, 2025, as Jirongo’s body lay in state ahead of his burial on December 30 at his ancestral home in Lumakanda, Bungoma County. Senator Khalwale arrived at the homestead dressed in full traditional Luhya regalia, carrying a lit torch and a spear, and accompanied by a group of followers, Isukuti drummers, and men wielding clubs and ceremonial shafts.
Witnesses said the senator walked deliberately toward the body, illuminating the casket with the torch as drummers beat rhythmically in the background. During the tense moment, Khalwale was heard making ritual pronouncements, calling for justice and declaring curses against anyone believed to have been involved in what he suggested could be foul play in Jirongo’s death.
The spectacle drew stunned reactions from mourners, many of whom watched in silence as the senator completed the ritual display. Khalwale later presented a bull named “Jirongo” to the family, describing the gesture as a sign of mourning, respect, and solidarity with the bereaved household.
The former Lugari MP, who was also a prominent businessman, died aged 64 on December 13, 2025, following a head-on collision along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway at Karai, Naivasha. According to police reports, Jirongo’s Mercedes-Benz collided with a passenger bus, leading to fatal injuries.
However, his sudden death has continued to generate controversy. Some elders from the Tiriki clan have publicly questioned the circumstances surrounding the crash, calling for a traditional ritual involving the placement of a lit torch inside the coffin. The belief, rooted in cultural tradition, holds that if foul play occurred, the flame would symbolically “follow” the guilty party after it is extinguished.
The proposed ritual has sharply divided opinion. Cultural leaders have warned that if the torch ritual is performed, women and children could be barred from attending the burial, citing traditional restrictions. Meanwhile, other political figures have weighed in, with Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria previously stating he was willing to fund the torch, further fuelling public debate.
Khalwale’s torch-lit appearance has since gone viral on social media, with images and videos circulating widely online. Supporters have praised the act as a bold stand for justice and cultural expression, while critics have accused the senator of politicising grief and amplifying unverified suspicions.
As Jirongo is laid to rest today, his death continues to sit at the intersection of tradition, politics, and unanswered questions — with emotions running high and the nation watching closely.
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Dramatic Ritual Scenes Erupt at Cyrus Jirongo’s Home as Boni Khalwale Makes Torch-Lit Entrance