Homicide investigators probing the death of politician Cyrus Jirongo have recommended a public inquest after concluding there is no evidence of foul play in the accident that killed the former Lugari MP.
The decision was reached after investigators ruled out murder, saying their findings so far point to a traffic accident.
“In light of the evidence gathered so far, there is nothing to show that Jirongo was murdered,” investigators said in their recommendations to Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Mohammed Amin.
Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohammed Amin.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Earlier, Mr Amin revealed that investigators had interviewed passengers who were travelling in a white Probox that was caught on CCTV trailing Jirongo’s vehicle on the fateful night, and established that the car was not involved in his death.
“So far, investigations show the death was purely a traffic accident,” Mr Amin said in a message posted on the DCI’s social media platforms.
Mr Jirongo died on the morning of December 13 when his vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with a passenger bus at around 3am along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway, near Karai in Naivasha, Nakuru County.
He was driving alone and died from injuries consistent with a high-impact collision, police said.
A source familiar with the investigations told the Nation that the DCI has so far interviewed more than 20 people, including the bus driver, a tout, one passenger of the bus, petrol station attendants, and three passengers who were travelling in the white Probox that drove into a petrol station behind Jirongo’s car.
Mr Amin said investigations revealed that the vehicle was registered to Keringet Member of County Assembly (MCA) William Mutai, who is also the Nakuru Majority Leader, and who had hired it out to a family that was planning to pick a relative from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport the following day.
After recording their statements, police ruled out any link between the four occupants and Mr Jirongo, noting that they did not know him and had no interest in his movements.
Despite the police findings, controversy continues to rage ahead of the burial of the former Moi-era minister, amid plans by elders to bury him with a torch in line with Tiriki cultural beliefs to clear the mystery surrounding his death.
A section of leaders from the Western region, who visited Mr Jirongo’s home in Maili Saba, Kitale, on Sunday and Monday, insisted that the late politician must be buried with a torch to expose those believed to be behind his death.
Friends and family members carry the casket of former Lugari Member of Parliament Cyrus Jirongo during his memorial service at Christ Is the Answer Ministries (CITAM), Valley Road, Nairobi, on December 27, 2025, as relatives, friends, political leaders and congregants gather to pay their final respects and reflect on his life, leadership and enduring political legacy.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
The leaders, led by former Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa and Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, said those opposing the cultural ritual could be complicit in Mr Jirongo’s death.
They said community elders would unleash cultural powers to expose those they allege had a hand in his demise, adding that no stone would be left unturned.
“We are not going to sit back and watch our kinsmen die in mysterious circumstances. Jirongo should be the last one. We lost Jacob Juma and now Jirongo. Names have been mentioned, but nothing has happened. This must stop,” Mr Amisi said.
Mr Wamalwa and Mr Amisi said the community would invoke all cultural rites and traditions to ensure that those responsible are exposed and punished.
They regretted that several prominent Luhya leaders had died in mysterious circumstances, cases they said have never been conclusively investigated or suspects prosecuted.
“You cannot just kill a son of Mulembe and walk away. It must stop with our generation,” Mr Amisi said.
Mr Wamalwa said the cultural rituals were an alternative avenue because, in his view, official investigations had failed.
“We support the family and our Tiriki brothers to take cultural and traditional actions that can help us know who wanted Jirongo dead,” he said.
He dismissed those opposing the rituals, saying they could be suspects or accomplices.
“We are told some people fear the torch. We want the truth before we bury our brother. We will even buy enough torches and carry them during the burial,” Mr Wamalwa added.
Leaders from the region said Mr Jirongo’s death was a major blow to the Mulembe nation and demanded an official government report on the circumstances surrounding his death.
However, only a handful of Western Kenya leaders attended the requiem service, painting a picture of a man loved by many but largely absent in death.
Those present included Kiminini MP Kakai Bisau, burial co-chairs Fred Gumo and George Khaniri, former Nairobi clerk Philip Kisia, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Gilbert Masengeli, and the county security team led by County Commissioner Gideon Oyagi.
“I am one of the last people who spoke to CJ before his death. We talked at 11pm that night. The circumstances of his death are mysterious and there are many gaps in the investigations,” said Mr Wamang’oli, a former Vihiga senator.
“He told me he was going home. How he ended up in Naivasha, I don’t know. I refuse to accept that he drove himself there,” he added.
Mr Khaniri said private investigators had identified several gaps, including CCTV footage allegedly showing two occupants in Jirongo’s vehicle.
“We want the government to tell the public what happened to Jirongo. The family wants a thorough forensic investigation,” he said.
He added that the body had no visible external injuries, consistent with the extensive damage to the vehicle.
Deputy Inspector-General Masengeli urged leaders and the public to avoid speculation, saying forensic investigations were ongoing.
“Technology will not lie. As government, we will get to the bottom of Jirongo’s death,” he said.
Members of Mr Jirongo’s family, led by his wives Christine Nyokabi and Anne Lanoi, eulogised him as a devoted family man.
“It is hard to imagine I will no longer hear him ask for his boiled maize and black tea, or discuss politics and farming with him,” Ms Nyokabi said.
His children, led by Craig Jirongo, described him as a man loved equally by family and the public.
Family members view the body of former Lugari Member of Parliament Cyrus Jirongo during his memorial service at Christ Is the Answer Ministries (CITAM), Valley Road, Nairobi, on December 27, 2025, as relatives, friends, political leaders and congregants gather to pay their final respects and reflect on his life, leadership and enduring political legacy.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
“We appreciate everyone for standing with us. Though our hearts are heavy, we believe Cyrus is now our guardian angel,” Ms Lanoi said.
“We have many unanswered questions. No one has even come forward to say they were on the bus involved in the crash,” he said.
