Kenya has woken up to devastating news following the sudden death of former Cabinet Minister and Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, the flamboyant political fixer who once held immense sway in the corridors of power. Jirongo, 64, died on the spot in a grisly early-morning road accident along the Nairobi–Nakuru highway, after his vehicle rammed into a 45-seater passenger bus near Karai, Naivasha, at around 3am on Saturday.
Traffic police confirmed the crash, noting that the impact was severe and fatal. News of his death spread rapidly, triggering an outpouring of condolences from political leaders, trade unionists and business figures across the country.
From YK92 Kingpin to State House Insider
Few Kenyans truly grasp the depth of Cyrus Jirongo’s influence in the early 1990s, a period when he emerged as one of the most powerful unelected individuals in the country. As the frontman of Youth for KANU 1992 (YK92), Jirongo became the chief mobiliser and strategist for the then-ruling party, wielding unmatched access to President Daniel arap Moi.
So powerful was Jirongo’s grip on the system that political folklore credits him with influencing the naming of the newly introduced KES 500 note, which many nicknamed after him at the height of his influence — a symbol of how deeply embedded he was in the political economy of the time.
Under YK92, Jirongo recruited and mentored a crop of young, ambitious politicians, among them William Samoei Ruto, now Kenya’s President. Ironically, as politics evolved, the once-close allies would later fall out, drifting into rival camps as Jirongo’s star dimmed and Ruto’s rose.
Jirongo transitioned from behind-the-scenes power broker to elective politics, serving as Lugari MP from 1997 to 2002, and later from 2007 to 2013. He was appointed Minister for Rural Development in 2002 during President Moi’s final months in office.
Never shy of ambition, Jirongo later mounted a 2017 presidential bid under the United Democratic Party (UDP), a long-shot campaign that nonetheless reinforced his image as a man who refused to fade quietly. In 2022, he unsuccessfully contested the Kakamega governorship, losing to ODM’s Fernandes Barasa, after which he largely retreated from the limelight.
Until recently, that is. Weeks before his death, Jirongo had resurfaced politically, campaigning during the Malava by-elections, where he endorsed DAP-Kenya candidate Seth Panyako.
Beyond politics, Jirongo was widely regarded as a real estate titan, said to own immeasurable property holdings, particularly in Lang’ata, Nairobi, and other prime locations. His wealth, accumulated over decades of political proximity and business ventures, was the subject of constant intrigue and speculation.
Leaders from across the political divide mourned him as a fearless mobiliser and political survivor. Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka described his death as a major loss, while COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli hailed him as “an asset to our community and Kenya.”
End of an Era
Cyrus Jirongo’s death marks the end of a dramatic chapter in Kenyan politics — a life defined by raw power, controversy, wealth and ambition. From shaping election outcomes in the Moi era to mentoring future presidents and challenging the system he once served, Jirongo leaves behind a legacy that will be debated for generations.
As investigators piece together the circumstances of the fatal crash, Kenya reflects on a man who once stood at the very heart of power — and never stopped chasing it until the very end.
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