Former Presidential Candidate Cyrus Jirongo Killed in Grisly Road Accident
Former Lugari MP and veteran Kenyan politician Cyrus Jirongo has died following a road accident on the Naivasha–Nakuru highway, police have confirmed.
The 64-year-old was travelling towards Nairobi from the Nakuru direction on Saturday morning when his vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with a passenger bus near the Karai area of Naivasha. According to preliminary police reports, the impact caused extensive damage to his car, and Mr Jirongo was pronounced dead at the scene.
Several passengers aboard the bus sustained injuries in the crash and were taken to hospitals in Naivasha for treatment. Police said investigations into the exact circumstances surrounding the accident are ongoing.
Mr Jirongo was a well-known and influential figure in Kenya’s political landscape, with a career spanning more than three decades. He first rose to national prominence in the early 1990s as the leader of the Youth for KANU ’92 lobby group, which played a key role in mobilising political support during the country’s transition to multiparty politics.
He later entered elective politics and served as the Member of Parliament for Lugari, establishing himself as a vocal and strategic operator within national politics. In 2017, he mounted a bid for the presidency, further cementing his status as a seasoned political heavyweight, and he remained an active commentator on national affairs in recent years.
News of his death prompted an outpouring of tributes from leaders and public figures across the political divide, many describing him as a bold and fearless politician who helped shape Kenya’s multiparty era.
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli was among the first to pay tribute, expressing his shock at the news.
“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,” Mr Atwoli said in a statement shared on social media. “May your soul rest in peace.”
Family members were yet to issue a formal statement by Saturday afternoon, as authorities continued with investigations and arrangements to transfer the body from the scene.
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Former Presidential Candidate Cyrus Jirongo Killed in Grisly Road Accident