Jirongo’s last conversation with wife: ‘Naivasha wasn’t on his itinerary’

Hundreds of mourners gathered at CITAM Valley Road to pay tribute to a man widely described as having lived a full life, leaving behind three wives and 21 children.

In her tribute, one of his wives Anne Lanoi revealed details of their final conversation—unaware at the time that it would be their last.

She said Mr Jirongo called her on the afternoon of December 12 to ask where she was before suggesting they meet to talk as a family.

“I told him I was at the supermarket and he said he wanted to see me. He drove to where I was. We met at the parking lot and I put the trolley aside and went to see him,” she said.

Inside the vehicle, the two engaged in what she described as a deep conversation largely centred on his business.

After the discussion, Ms Lanoi said her husband told her he was heading back to the office to “build his castle.” He also shared his plans for the rest of the day which included a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.

Naivasha was not mentioned in those plans, she said, which is why she was shocked to learn that he had been involved in a fatal accident there the following morning.

She added that later in the afternoon, around 4 pm, Mr Jirongo called her again via FaceTime and said he had not gone back to the office after all.

“He told me he had gone home and was feeling tired. He said he was seated on a chair and had been sleeping for about two hours,” she said. That was their last conversation.

Sleepless night 

Ms Lanoi said she never imagined that their brief meeting in the supermarket parking lot would be the last time she would see him in person.

Despite speaking several times during the day, she said she was later overwhelmed by a deep sense of unease and could not sleep that night.

“I looked at my phone and it was exactly midnight. I took a screenshot—it is the picture I used in my tribute. I could hear voices over and over, but I couldn’t make sense of it,” she said.

By 3 am, she was still awake when her husband’s phone rang. This time, however, it was a stranger on the other end of the line.

“Someone asked me if I knew him. I said yes, that is my husband. They then told me he had been involved in an accident and was unconscious,” she said.

Her emotional tribute came against the backdrop of lingering questions from several leaders including People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria and former Vihiga senator George Khaniri who have expressed doubts about the circumstances surrounding Mr Jirongo’s death.

Ms Karua said the former Lugari MP had previously expressed concerns about his personal safety.

“I want to say something that may not have been mentioned. Cyrus had concerns about his security and was making arrangements to strengthen it. This accident happened before that. Those questions will linger,” she said.

She added that they had been planning political collaboration ahead of the 2027 General Election.

“We had collaborated with Cyrus in many political seasonsz including the run-up to the 2022 elections, and we were planning to work together going forward,” she said, noting that those plans would continue despite his death.

Mr Khaniri, a close friend of the family, said he found it difficult to believe that Mr Jirongo had driven himself to Naivasha in the middle of the night.

“I can say for sure that in the state he was in, he did not drive himself to Naivasha. There are many inconsistencies. We are told it was a head-on collision with a Busia-bound bus yet I have not seen a single passenger come forward to say they were in that bus,” he said.

Mr Khaniri also questioned the condition of the Mercedes-Benz Mr Jirongo was driving noting that none of its 12 airbags reportedly deployed during the crash.

Family members and allies have since called for a thorough investigation to establish how Mr Jirongo left his Karen home, travelled to Naivasha and became involved in the fatal accident.

DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa described the late MP as a unifying figure in the Luhya community and urged the region to remain united in his honour.

Other leaders who paid tribute included Muhoho Kenyatta and former Jubilee Party vice-chairman David Murathe.

Mr Kenyatta said he received news of the accident while out of the country and was left with many questions.

“Cyrus was full of energy and life. The thought of him not being with us is unbelievable. He was larger than life in many ways—misunderstood by some, including myself. He had depth, ideas, charisma, and endless energy,” he said.

Mr Jirongo’s other wives Christine Nyokabi and Anne Kanini remembered him as a devoted family man who gave generously to his loved ones and friends.

His 21 children described him as a loving father who cared deeply about their lives without discrimination.

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