NAIROBI, Kenya- Family members and close associates of former Lugari MP and veteran politician Cyrus Jirongo are demanding answers over the circumstances surrounding his death in a road accident, with growing focus on why the airbags in his vehicle reportedly failed to deploy.
The concerns were publicly raised by former Senator George Khaniri, who questioned key aspects of the crash that claimed Jirongo’s life on December 13, 2025, along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway near Karai, Naivasha.
“How comes no airbag deployed?” Khaniri asked, saying the issue raises serious questions about the nature of the impact and the safety features of the vehicle involved.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Jirongo died following a head-on collision involving his private car and a Climax Company Ltd passenger bus at around 2:19 a.m.
Investigators say CCTV footage obtained from a nearby petrol station shows Jirongo’s vehicle stopping briefly before rejoining the highway moments before the crash.
While police have maintained that investigations are ongoing, the family says several issues remain unresolved.
Among them is the claim by private investigators hired by the family that Jirongo may not have been alone in the vehicle at the time of the fatal crash, a revelation that has intensified calls for a deeper probe.
The reported non-deployment of airbags has emerged as a central concern, with relatives and allies questioning whether the vehicle’s safety systems functioned as expected given the severity of the impact.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli has urged patience, assuring the public that forensic teams are conducting a thorough investigation.
He said authorities are relying on technology, forensic evidence and expert analysis to reconstruct the final moments leading to the crash.
A post-mortem examination later confirmed that Jirongo died from blunt force trauma, with pathologists citing extensive injuries to the chest, abdomen and spinal cord.
The injuries were consistent with a high-impact collision, including multiple rib fractures, internal bleeding and cardiac perforation.
Meanwhile, the driver of the passenger bus involved in the crash has been released on cash bail as investigations continue.
He faces charges related to dangerous driving causing death and is required to report regularly to the Naivasha Traffic Base.
As the country mourns the outspoken businessman and politician, his family and political allies are calling for full transparency, insisting that all questions, particularly surrounding the airbag failure and possible additional occupants, must be conclusively addressed.
Jirongo is set to be laid to rest at his Lumakanda home in Kakamega County.
