Former Lugari Member of Parliament and Minister Cyrus Jirongo Dies

Former Lugari Member of Parliament (MP) and Rural Development minister Cyrus Jirongo is dead. Jirongo died in the wee hours of Saturday morning following a road accident that occurred in Karai area, Naivasha, Nakuru County. His friends and relatives said Jirongo was driving himself to his rural home in Lugari, Kakamega, when his vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with a bus. Rift-valley Traffic Enforcement Officer Sarah Chumo said the crash happened at around 3:00 a.m. December 13, 2025, along the busy Nairobi–Nakuru Highway. He was alone at the time. He had earlier met a group of Western leaders in Karen, Nairobi, before he hit the road to his Kakamega home. Other reports indicate he had reached Naivasha for a meeting and was driving back to Nairobi when the accident happened. Police said they are investigating the incident. His car was badly damaged, police and witnesses said. Some of his friends rushed to the scene and were directed to the local mortuary, where police had moved his body. There were plans to move the body to Nairobi for further procedures. He was a former Minister for Rural Development.He had earlier met a group of Western leaders in Karen, Nairobi, before he hit the road to his Kakamega home. Other reports indicate he had reached Naivasha for a meeting and was driving back to Nairobi when the accident happened. Police said they are investigating the incident. His car was badly damaged, police and witnesses said. Some of his friends rushed to the scene and were directed to the local mortuary, where police had moved his body. Police have launched investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident, as tributes continue to pour in from colleagues, friends, and constituents remembering Jirongo’s legacy and contribution to public life. There were plans to move the body to Nairobi for further procedures. He was a former Minister for Rural Development. His death has sent shockwaves across the political divide, with leaders and residents alike mourning the loss of a seasoned public figure. Between 1978 and 1981 he went to Mang'u High School. Jirongo became the chairman of AFC Leopards football club in 1991. He is leader of the United Democratic Party. He previously served as former Member of Parliament for Lugari Constituency between 1997 and 2002 and between 2007 and 2013. He became widely known at a young age for his political organizing skills rather than for a formal professional background. Jirongo rose to national prominence in 1992 as the leader of Youth for KANU 92, a powerful political lobby group formed to support President Daniel arap Moi during Kenya’s first multiparty elections. The group played a major role in mobilization and fundraising and made Jirongo one of the most influential young political figures of the early 1990s. Profile 1961: Born in Lumakanda, Lugari sub-county, Kakamega county. 1970: Attended Lumakanda DEB Primary School, CPE class of 1977. 1978: Mang’u High School, ‘O’-level class of 1981. 1982: Cambridge University, UK, Diploma in Management. 1992: Forms Youth for Kanu 1992. 1993: Elected chairman of AFC Leopards Football Club. 1997: Elected MP Lugari on Kanu ticket. 2002: Lost the Lugari parliamentary seat to Enock Kibunguchy of Narc. 2007: Elected Lugari MP on Kaddu ticket. 2013: Stood for and lost the Kakamega county senatorial seat to Boni Khalwale. Quotes 2008: “If you go to Lodwar, there is a fisheries facility. I remember we visited that facility one time with Ekwee Ethuro. That is a highly advanced facility donated by one donor country. The facility has new machines, but it is idle. Why are we creating new facilities when we cannot inject capital into the ones that we have, so that they can generate employment for our young people in this country?