The driver of the Climax Company bus involved in the crash that claimed the life of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo has recounted how he made a split-second choice to protect the 65 passengers aboard, even as a collision became unavoidable.
Tirus Kamau, who has been with the long-distance bus company for eight years, said he was traveling from Nairobi to Busia when the accident occurred around 3am on Saturday at Karai, Naivasha.
Kamau told reporters at Naivasha Police Station that a white Mercedes-Benz E350, later confirmed to be driven by Jirongo, suddenly swerved into his lane.
“The Mercedes was driving out of a petrol station on the highway, and I was on my way to Busia from Nairobi,” he explained. “The driver of the Mercedes didn’t give way. He decided to overlap into my lane because there was traffic on his side.”
With 65 passengers depending on him and only seconds to react, Kamau said he quickly realised that swerving sharply off the road could have caused the bus to overturn.
“I was carrying 65 people,” he said. “When I tried to avoid hitting him, I realised the bus would go down, so I decided to save the 65 people.”
Kamau made a rapid decision to absorb the impact at the front of the bus rather than risk turning it over, potentially causing more fatalities. The collision destroyed the front of the Mercedes beyond recognition. Kamau added that he did not know who was driving until police arrived.
“I didn’t know who it was, but when police came, they confirmed it was Cyrus Jirongo. He died on the spot,” he said quietly.
A police report from Naivasha Traffic Base states that Jirongo’s Mercedes, heading towards Nairobi, left its lane and collided head-on with the oncoming bus. The former MP suffered severe head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
His body was taken to the Naivasha Sub-County Morgue for post-mortem, while both vehicles were moved to Naivasha Police Station for further inspection.
Kamau’s testimony highlights the difficult choices faced by drivers in emergencies, especially when the lives of many people are at stake.
Investigations into the exact cause of the crash are ongoing, while tributes continue to flow for Jirongo. President William Ruto described him as a “relentless go-getter, a seasoned businessman, and a consummate politician who refused to be defined, let alone defeated, by life’s challenges.”
Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka said Jirongo was a “bold and charismatic leader who never shied away from standing out, challenging convention, or pursuing his convictions with courage and clarity. His contribution to Kenya’s public life and his distinctive voice in our national discourse will be remembered.”
