• Jirongo served as MP for Lugari Constituency, holding office between 1997–2002 and again from 2007–2013. He also held positions as a Cabinet minister in the Moi government.

Former Lugari Member of Parliament (MP) Cyrus Jirongo has passed away in the morning of December 13, 2025. The accident occurred at around 3:00 a.m after his car collided head‑on with a Climax Coach bus along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway.

The accident claimed the life of a man remembered for his flamboyant lifestyle, controversial career, and enduring influence in Kenya’s politics.

Born on March 21, 1961, Jirongo rose to prominence in the early 1990s as the head of Youth for the Kenya African National Union (KANU) ’92 (YK’92), a powerful youth wing that campaigned for President Daniel arap Moi’s re‑election in 1992. His bold personality and wealth quickly made him a household name.

Jirongo served as MP for Lugari Constituency, holding office between 1997–2002 and again from 2007–2013. He also held positions as a Cabinet minister in the Moi government.

Over the years, he associated himself with several political parties, including KANU and the United Democratic Movement (UDM). He even sought the presidency in 2013 and 2017, though unsuccessfully.

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Jirongo’s career carried both influence and controversy. He became known for his outspoken views, bold personality, and high‑profile disputes over finances and political alliances. Despite these challenges, he remained a significant figure in Kenya’s political landscape for decades.

Kenyan leaders across the political spectrum have mourned his passing.

President William Ruto has described Jirongo as “a relentless go‑getter, a seasoned businessman, and a consummate politician who refused to be defined, let alone defeated, by life’s challenges.”

Furthermore, he has added that Jirongo was “blunt yet warm, bold yet approachable, enlightened and endlessly entrepreneurial… generous to a fault, always willing to uplift others.”

The former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said, “As Lugari MP from 1997–2002 and 2007–2013, Jirongo served his constituents with dedication.”

Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen has also noted, “A feisty political organiser and astute businessman, Jirongo has left a mark on our country’s political and economic landscape. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and everyone who knew him.”

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