Old Video Resurfaces as Cyrus Jirongo Accuses Ruto of Conning Him Millions in T-Shirts Tender
A past video of former Lugari MP and 2013 presidential aspirant Cyrus Jirongo has resurfaced online, in which he accused Deputy President William Ruto of conning him millions of shillings in a controversial T-shirts supply deal dating back to the early 1990s.
In the clip, taken from a KTN News Pointblank interview , Jirongo made explosive claims about his early dealings with Ruto, whom he described at the time as a young and upcoming political operative.
Speaking candidly during the televised interview, Jirongo said he was introduced to Ruto by former Funyula MP Julia Ojiambo shortly after the 1992 General Election, when Ruto allegedly approached him seeking a tender to supply campaign T-shirts.
According to Jirongo, he awarded Ruto a contract to supply 10,000 T-shirts following the 1992 campaigns. However, he claimed the arrangement was abused through what he described as a fraudulent delivery scheme.
“William Ruto was never part of YK92. He was one of the young men who used to spend time at KICC at the Youths and Women’s office with Dr Julia Ojiambo,” Jirongo said.
“After the 1992 campaign, he looked for friendship with me. I was hesitant, but they pushed very hard. I gave him a contract to supply 10,000 T-shirts, but he did not supply the 10,000,” he added.
Jirongo alleged that instead of delivering the full consignment, Ruto supplied 1,000 T-shirts repeatedly, working with storekeepers to recycle the same batch while receiving payment as if fresh supplies had been made.
“He brought 1,000 T-shirts and repeatedly brought the same T-shirts 10 times. I ended up paying him Ksh1.2 million because a T-shirt then cost Ksh120,” Jirongo claimed.
“What he did was corrupt the young boys at the stores. They would receive the 1,000 T-shirts and give them back to him to deliver again,” he continued.
The former MP also claimed that President Uhuru Kenyatta, prior to forming a political alliance with Ruto in 2010, had been wary of Ruto’s character and motives.
“Uhuru knows William Ruto has no respect for most people he has worked with. He has no respect for Jirongo, who introduced him to Moi. He has no respect for Moi. He has no respect for Raila,” Jirongo said during the interview.
“William Ruto takes advantage of people,” he added.
Ruto has previously dismissed Jirongo’s accusations, describing him in past interviews as a disgruntled politician who struggled to accept shifting power dynamics as Ruto rose to national prominence.
In one such response, Ruto said Jirongo was uncomfortable with being politically overshadowed by someone who had once been his junior.
The resurfacing of the video comes amid renewed public interest in Jirongo’s life and political legacy following his death in a recent road accident along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway.
Despite their public fallout, Ruto is known to have assisted Jirongo during his legal troubles. In September 2018, the Deputy President donated Ksh2 million to help secure Jirongo’s release after he was jailed over a Ksh20 million debt owed to businessman Brian Yongo.
Jirongo remained a controversial yet influential political figure, best remembered for his leadership of the Youth for Kanu ’92 (YK92) movement and his later attempts at the presidency, including his run in the 2013 and 2017 elections.
The resurfaced interview has reignited debate online about Kenya’s political history and the long-standing rivalries that have shaped the country’s leadership landscape.
Also Read: Petrol Attendant Reveals One Wrong Move That Killed Cyrus Jirongo on Nairobi–Nakuru Highway
Old Video Resurfaces as Cyrus Jirongo Accuses Ruto of Conning Him Millions in T-Shirts Tender