NAIVASHA, Kenya — The driver of a passenger bus involved in the fatal road accident that claimed the life of former Lugari Member of Parliament Cyrus Jirongo has given a detailed account of the events leading to the collision, with police confirming that Jirongo’s vehicle was in the wrong lane at the time of the crash.
The accident occurred at about 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 13, at the Karai area along the busy Nairobi–Nakuru Highway.
Jirongo died on the spot after his Mercedes-Benz saloon car collided head-on with a Climax Coaches bus heading to Busia from Nairobi.
The bus driver, identified as Tirus Kamau, said Jirongo was alone in the Nairobi-bound vehicle, which had just exited a petrol station near the scene.
Kamau, who has worked for Climax Coaches for eight years, said the former MP’s car suddenly entered the highway and veered into the wrong lane while attempting to avoid traffic congestion.
“The Mercedes was coming from a petrol station as I headed toward Busia from Nairobi. He didn’t give way. He got to the road and saw his side had a traffic jam. He decided to come to my lane, and we collided head-on,” Kamau said.
He explained that he attempted to swerve to avoid the crash but was constrained by the risk of losing control of the bus, which was carrying 65 passengers at the time.
“I tried saving him, but I felt my bus would go down. I braked, and he came ramming into the bus,” Kamau said, adding that he did not immediately know the identity of the driver of the smaller vehicle.
“I had not known who the person was, but when the police came, I learnt he was Cyrus Jirongo. I’m so sorry,” a visibly remorseful Kamau said.
Police investigations have corroborated the bus driver’s account.
“The accident occurred today at about 0300 hrs in the Karai area along the Nakuru–Naivasha Highway. It happened that one Cyrus Jirongo, aged 64 years, was driving motor vehicle registration number KCZ 305C, make Mercedes-Benz, from Nakuru direction heading towards Nairobi direction, and upon reaching the location of the accident, he failed to keep to its inner lane and collided head-on with the oncoming motor vehicle, Climax Company,” the police report stated.
According to the police, Jirongo sustained critical head injuries and died at the scene. His body was taken to the Naivasha Sub-County Hospital mortuary, where it was preserved pending a post-mortem examination. The wreckage of both vehicles was towed to the police station for further inspection as investigations continue.
Jirongo was a prominent political figure from Western Kenya and a former close ally of the late President Daniel arap Moi. He rose to national prominence in the 1990s as one of KANU’s influential power brokers and later served as a Cabinet minister.
He represented Lugari Constituency in the National Assembly for a decade, serving between 1997 and 2002, and later from 2007 to 2013. Over the years, he remained a vocal and often controversial presence in Kenya’s political landscape.
His death has renewed public concern over road safety along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway, a major transport corridor that has recorded numerous fatal accidents, particularly at night.
Authorities have repeatedly urged motorists to exercise caution, especially when joining highways from petrol stations and service roads.
