Family mourns late ex-Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo after sudden death

The late former Lugari MP, Cyrus Jirongo/HANDOUT

The family of the late former Lugari MP, Cyrus Jirongo, has expressed deep grief and shock following the tragic road accident that claimed his life early Saturday morning.

Villagers and relatives alike are struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss of a man they describe as not just a leader in politics, but a pillar of their family and community.

Emotions ran high at Jirongo’s home, where women could be heard wailing uncontrollably, and small groups of relatives huddled together, speaking in hushed tones.

“It is a shock to the family; we did not expect this to happen. It is the festive season, and we were expecting to be together as a family for our usual gatherings,” a female relative said through tears.

She added that Jirongo was not only a political figure but a source of support and guidance for the family.

“He has been a leader not just to the country, but to the family. It is a great loss to us because he has been helping us a lot,” she said.

Another family member described Jirongo as a father figure to all of them. “This is a big tree that has fallen. We are asking for prayers for us and for Kenya as a country,” she said.

A male relative also spoke about the void his passing has left in their lives. “We do not know where to begin as a family. He was everything to us. We appreciate him—he has been a pillar to the family. We want to tell Kenyans to hold us, hold our hands, and mourn with us,” he said.

 The 64-year-old was travelling in his private vehicle along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway when it collided with a passenger bus, abruptly ending the life of a man whose presence loomed large in Kenya’s political and business circles for decades.

Leaders and political associates have paid tribute to Jirongo’s legacy, not just highlighting his political career but also his generosity and commitment to uplifting others. His philanthropic nature, often described as instinctive, left a lasting impression on many within his constituency and beyond.

Jirongo’s formal political journey began when he was elected MP for Lugari Constituency on a Kanu ticket from 1997 to 2002.

In 2006, he founded the Kenya African Democratic Development Union (KADDU), reclaiming the Lugari parliamentary seat in the 2007 General Election, a position he held until 2013.

He later contested the Kakamega senatorial seat in 2013 but lost to Boni Khalwale. In 2017, Jirongo made a long-shot bid for the presidency under the United Democratic Party (UDP), garnering just over 11,000 votes nationally.

His final significant political contest came in 2022 when he vied for the Kakamega governorship but was defeated by Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidate Fernandes Barasa.