Senior advocate Kibe Mungai has raised fresh concerns over the death of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, saying the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash do not point to a clear-cut road accident.
Speaking on December 15, 2025, Mungai urged investigators to dig deeper as Kenyans await postmortem results, arguing that the available information leaves major gaps.
He noted that the prevailing version of events is based largely on the account of the bus driver involved in the collision, describing this as unusual in cases of fatal crashes involving prominent figures.
“There is only one narrative coming from the driver. That alone should prompt deeper scrutiny. From what we know so far, this does not look like a legitimate accident,” Mungai said.
Lack of witnesses raises red flags
Mungai pointed to the absence of independent witnesses or corroborating evidence at the scene, saying investigators must establish a clearer and more credible sequence of events.
He also questioned why Jirongo was travelling along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway in the early hours of the morning, noting that the late-night journey did not align with the former legislator’s known plans or movements.
“As we await the postmortem, it is difficult to understand how or why Jirongo would have ended up in Naivasha at that hour. There were no passengers, neighbours or bystanders at the scene to confirm what happened,” he added.
What police say about the crash
Jirongo, 64, died on December 13, 2025, after a head-on collision between his Mercedes-Benz and a Climax Coach bus at the Karai area of Naivasha. Police say the crash occurred at around 3 a.m., and the former MP died at the scene.
The bus, which was travelling from Nairobi to Busia with about 65 passengers, reported no serious injuries. The driver, Tirus Kamau, told police that Jirongo’s vehicle veered into his lane while overtaking, leaving him little room to avoid the impact without risking passengers’ lives.
This account has so far formed the basis of preliminary police findings as investigations continue.
Family and allies seek answers
Questions about Jirongo’s final movements have persisted. Family members say he was last seen on the evening of December 12 in Karen, Nairobi, and was expected to return home in Gigiri, insisting he had no known business in Naivasha.
Burial committee co-chair George Khaniri has publicly questioned how the former MP ended up driving back towards Nairobi from Naivasha, while former legislator Fred Gumo has called for a review of CCTV footage along the route.
Jirongo’s United Democratic Party (UDP) has also demanded clarity on who he spoke to after 9 p.m., why he travelled alone without security, and what triggered the late-night journey.
A towering figure in Kenyan politics for over three decades, Jirongo led Youth for KANU ’92, served two terms as Lugari MP and ran for president in 2017. He will be laid to rest on December 30, 2025, in Lumakanda, Kakamega County, as investigations into his death continue.