A grainy freeze-frame from a Naivasha CCTV camera has upended the investigation into veteran politician Cyrus Jirongo’s fatal road accident, just hours before he is laid to rest.

While the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has maintained that the former Lugari MP was driving alone when his Mercedes-Benz collided with a bus on December 13, private investigators hired by the family have dropped a bombshell: visual evidence suggests he was not the only one in the front seat.

The revelation challenges the official narrative of a tragic but routine traffic accident, raising urgent questions about the identity of the mysterious passengers and their whereabouts in the seconds following the high-impact crash at Karai.

The Silent Passengers

Family sources, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, indicated that footage obtained from Eagol Petrol Station—minutes before the crash—shows silhouettes of two individuals in the front cabin of the vehicle (Reg. KCZ 305U). This directly contradicts the police report filed by Rift Valley traffic enforcement officers, which stated Jirongo was the sole occupant.

“We have seen the footage. It is grainy, but the outline of a second person is distinct,” a representative for the family told Streamline News. “If he was alone, as the police claim, who is the second figure? And more importantly, where did they go after the collision?”

The crash occurred at 3:00 AM at the notorious Karai blackspot, a stretch of the Nairobi-Nakuru highway known for claiming lives. Jirongo’s vehicle was reduced to a mangle of twisted metal after a head-on collision with a Climax Coach bus.

DCI Rules Out Foul Play

Despite the family's new claims, the state has remained firm. DCI Director Mohamed Amin earlier this week ruled out foul play, categorizing the death as a result of a traffic accident caused by lane indiscipline. Detectives also probed a white Toyota Probox seen trailing Jirongo’s car on CCTV but cleared its occupants, stating they were merely travelers who stopped to assist.

However, the discrepancy regarding the number of passengers adds a layer of intrigue to the death of a man who was once the chairman of the powerful YK92 lobby group. In Kenya, the death of a high-profile political figure on the road often invites skepticism, with memories of past unexplained accidents fueling public doubt.

• The Vehicle: A Mercedes-Benz KCZ 305U, a high-end sedan valued at over $80,000 (approx. KES 10.4 million).
• The Crash Site: Karai, Naivasha—a high-risk zone for night travel.
• The Dispute: Police say 'Solo Driver'; Family says 'Two Passengers'.

A Tense Farewell

As friends and political allies gather in Lumakanda, Lugari, for today’s burial, the mood is thick with suspicion. Opposition leaders, including Eugene Wamalwa, have already demanded the government “break its silence” and provide a comprehensive report.

For the ordinary Kenyan, the story resonates beyond the politics. It touches on the persistent lack of trust in official investigations and the terrifying reality of Kenyan roads, where the truth often seems as elusive as safety.

“We just want the truth,” the family spokesperson added. “We cannot bury our patriarch with unanswered questions hanging over his grave.”