Family, friends, and political allies gathered at CITAM Valley Road in Nairobi on Saturday morning to honour the life of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo during a memorial church service held as part of his burial preparations.
The service, which began at around 10am, marked the start of a four-day funeral programme leading to Jirongo’s burial scheduled for Tuesday, December 30, 2025. Several leaders attended, including former Attorney General Amos Wako and Martha Karua.
Following the church service, Jirongo’s family hosted an overnight vigil at their Gigiri residence in Nairobi. Additional memorial services are planned in Kitale on Sunday, December 28, before his remains are transported to Lumakanda on Monday ahead of the burial.
Jirongo will be laid to rest at his rural home in Lumakanda, Lugari Constituency, Kakamega County, closing a public farewell to one of the country’s long-serving political figures.
The veteran politician died on December 13, 2025, in a road accident along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway near Karai in Naivasha. Police said the crash happened at about 3am when his Mercedes-Benz vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with a Climax Coaches passenger bus.
A post-mortem examination conducted at Lee Funeral Home revealed that Jirongo sustained extensive blunt force trauma. The report confirmed severe injuries to his chest, abdomen and spine, as well as multiple fractures. Government and family pathologists said the injuries were “not compatible with life.”
Investigations into the crash are ongoing, with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations working to establish the events that led to the fatal accident. Detectives have traced and interviewed individuals linked to a white Toyota Probox that appeared in closed-circuit television footage near the scene shortly before the collision.
DCI officers have also recorded statements as part of efforts to reconstruct Jirongo’s movements in the hours before the crash. CCTV footage obtained from a petrol station showed his vehicle entering and leaving the forecourt moments before the accident, prompting investigators to track those present at the location to piece together a clear timeline.
Jirongo’s family has publicly called for a thorough probe, questioning how he ended up on the Naivasha stretch of the highway late at night. They noted that he had been expected to be at his Gigiri home several hours earlier. The family further urged security agencies to review available footage and data to clarify his final movements.
As funeral arrangements continue, political leaders across the country have continued to pay tribute. President William Ruto described Jirongo as a “relentless go-getter” whose life reflected determination and public service.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula visited the family in Lumakanda, where he offered condolences and appealed to leaders to avoid politicising the tragedy.
With several memorial services still planned, the funeral programme will conclude on Tuesday when Jirongo is laid to rest, marking the end of a period of national mourning for a seasoned political figure.
