Former Lugari Lawmaker, Cyrus Jirongo was on Tuesday laid to rest in an emotional send-off at his Lumakanda home in Kakamega County, with numerous leaders calling for a thorough investigation into his death.
The leaders who spoke during the funeral service at Lumakanda Township Comprehensive School grounds dismissed the police investigation report that indicated the lawmaker died in a traffic accident, saying there are many lingering questions that need answers for the case to be closed.
The leaders, who eulogised the former legislator and United Democratic Party Leader, as a steadfast politician, an astute businessman and a generous person, openly questioned the circumstances surrounding the accident, alleging that the homicide detectives are concealing critical information.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was also in attendance, eulogised Jirongo as a bold and principled leader who served the nation with dedication and defended multiparty democracy.
Former Vihiga Senator George Khaniri, Jirongo’s closest ally who spoke first, said his long-time friend and business partner had no plans to travel outside Nairobi on that particular night he met his death in Naivasha.
“I am yet to see a single witness speak about the accident. As Luhyas, we love photos; none have been shown. From what I saw, the injuries were not consistent with an accident. Jirongo’s body was intact,” he said.
Khaniri further told the mourners that the last time he saw the deceased alive was at around 8:30 pm at Oasis Restaurant in Karen, Nairobi and he was in the company of the National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula and two other individuals.
“I later spoke to my brother at 11pm and asked him where he was. He told me he was at the very place I had left him. We even talked about a meeting we had scheduled the following day and he assured me he remembered about it.
He told me he was about to leave for his home in Gigiri. So for him to get involved in an accident a few hours later is still shocking to me, as he had no plans to travel upcountry,” Khaniri recounted to the mourners.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale also demanded in-depth investigations from the government, challenging Speaker Wetangula to explain what they discussed with Jirongo in their last meeting and several others they held in his office prior to that.
“Wetangula was the last person to have been with Jirongo at a club in Karen. He has a lot to tell us because it is unrealistic how the late ended up in Naivasha when in reality he was going to his home in Gigiri,” he said.
Saboti Legislator, Caleb Amisi asked Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, to go to the President and challenge him to help uncover Jirongo’s mysterious death.
“As a community we won’t be silent any more as we continue losing our great leaders under unclear circumstances. We want Jirongo’s death to be the last one in the Luhya community,” he demanded.
Former Member of Parliament, Fred Gumo, said Kenyans want to know the truth rather than being taken in cycles by the investigating agencies.
He said everything from the accident scene looked suspicious and no single eyewitness from the bus that was ferrying dozens of passengers to Busia has come out to claim he or she witnessed the accident.
Busia Governor, Paul Otuoma, his Kakamega counterpart, Fernandes Barasa and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi said there is a need for an independent inquiry into the death of Jirongo, who they said played a pivotal role in uniting the Western region communities.
Siaya Governor, James Orengo, boldly said Jirongo did not die a natural death and the government should tell Kenyans the truth.
Democratic Action Party of Kenya Leader, Eugene Wamalwa, also called for comprehensive investigations, questioning the issuance of conflicting statements by the police.
People’s Liberation Party Leader Martha Karua, who said Jirongo had expressed fear for his life, said the community and Kenyans in general have a right to know the truth about the accident that claimed his life and the circumstances surrounding it.
Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli decried that the Country still has a lot of unresolved deaths linked to businesses and politics since independence, calling on the government to act and end the menace.
Reacting to Khalwale’s sentiments later, Speaker Wetangula confessed to having met Jirongo on the fateful night before leaving him at the Club to go and prepare for another meeting he was scheduled to attend in Mombasa the following day.
“When I received the news of Jirongo’s demise from my son the following morning, it hit me like a thunderbolt. It was unbelievable,” Wetang’ula stated, describing the late as a steadfast politician who valued friendships and championed for Luhya unity.
He challenged the Western Region communities to remain united in honour of Jirongo and resist divisions driven by parochial interests.
He reiterated sentiments from earlier speakers that Jirongo’s death must be conclusively investigated.
“I am asking all the investigating agencies to carry out thorough investigations and ensure everybody is satisfied,” he said.
Uhuru dismissed claims by a section of the Orange Democratic Movement party members that he is on a mission to buy the party, which was initially led by the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The former President said that despite being retired from active politics, he would continue to speak out on matters of public interest.
Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, who read President William Ruto’s eulogy, described Jirongo as a great man who helped many individuals across the country.
He said investigating agencies must lay everything bare to establish the circumstances surrounding the death.
Nairobi Governor, Johnson Sakaja and Kapseret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi, who described Jirongo as a friend to many, vowed to protect all his property, including the Ruai land and ensure all he owned rightfully goes to the family.
The late Cyrus Jirongo, 64, died on December 13, after his car was allegedly involved in a head-on collision with a bus ferrying passengers from Nairobi to Busia at the Karai area in Naivasha along the busy Nakuru-Nairobi Highway.
By Melechezedeck Ejakait
