NAIROBI, Kenya — The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) says, based on evidence gathered and analysed to date, the fatal incident that claimed the life of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo appears to be a road traffic accident with no indications of foul play.
DCI Director Mohamed Amin said in an official statement signed by spokesperson John Marete on Monday night.
The former legislator died in the early hours of December 13, 2025, following a head-on collision along the busy Nairobi–Nakuru Highway in the Karai area of Naivasha, Nakuru County.
Traffic enforcement officials confirmed Jirongo’s vehicle collided with a Climax Company Ltd public service vehicle (PSV) bus in a crash that occurred at approximately 2:19 a.m.
According to investigators, the impact was severe, pushing Jirongo’s Mercedes-Benz about 25 metres from the point of impact while the bus came to rest roughly 50 metres away.
FURTHER UPDATE: INQUIRY INTO THE DEATH OF HON. CYRUS JIRONGO
Witness Statements & Driver Questioning
So far, detectives have recorded statements from:
- The bus driver, identified as Tyrus Githinji Kamau, who was initially questioned at the Naivasha Traffic Base and later released on cash bail pending further inquiry into dangerous driving charges.
- The bus conductor and seven passengers who were on board at the time.
- Petrol station staff who witnessed Jirongo’s final movements prior to the collision.
DCI investigators have also registered a statement from the driver of the alleged rescue bus, Julius Kiprotich Chelule, as part of the comprehensive probe.
CCTV and Forensic Evidence
Detectives have recovered CCTV footage from a petrol station near the crash site, showing Jirongo’s vehicle entering the station shortly before the collision and then rejoining the highway moments before impact.
The evidence places the crash at about 2:19 a.m., and forensic experts have been deployed to analyse it further.
A multi-agency team of homicide detectives and National Forensic Laboratory experts continues to inspect the scene and secure key exhibits, with additional witness interviews and technical analyses underway.
Autopsy Confirms Blunt Force Trauma
Post-mortem examinations conducted at Lee Funeral Home found that Jirongo died from extensive blunt force injuries to the chest and abdomen, including multiple rib fractures and perforation of the heart and major vessels consistent with a high-impact collision.
He also suffered fractures to both lower limbs and spinal injuries.
Family pathologists, alongside government experts, confirmed that the severity of these injuries was incompatible with survival.
Public Reaction and Calls for Transparency
The crash has sparked national shock and debate.
While the DCI maintains the incident was a traffic accident, some political figures and family members have called for deeper investigations into the circumstances leading up to Jirongo’s journey that night.
Questions linger about why he was alone on the highway around 3 a.m., far from his Nairobi base, prompting demands for a full tracing of his movements.
UDP leaders have echoed these concerns, urging investigators to establish a timeline of events and interactions before the politician’s departure, and to address public speculation about the crash narrative.
Legacy of a Veteran Politician
Cyrus Shakhalaga Jirongo was a veteran Kenyan politician, known for his leadership roles including as Lugari MP and founder of the Youth for KANU ’92 movement.
His death marks the end of a decades-long political career that left a significant imprint on national discourse.
