Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka has paid a heartfelt tribute to the late former Lugari MP, Cyrus Jirongo, hailing him as a “bold and charismatic leader” whose sudden death in a tragic road accident represents a profound loss for the nation. The tribute brings into focus a complex political relationship that spanned over three decades, from their formative years in the KANU establishment to their recent collaboration in the One Kenya Alliance (OKA).

The death of Jirongo, a man who burst onto the national stage as the formidable leader of the Youth for KANU '92 (YK’92), has silenced one of Western Kenya's most influential and unpredictable political figures. His journey ended violently on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway in the early hours of Saturday, December 13, 2025, when his Mercedes-Benz collided head-on with a passenger bus. He was 64.

In his statement, Musyoka emphasized Jirongo's unique political style. “Hon. Jirongo was a bold and charismatic leader who never shied away from standing out, challenging convention, or pursuing his convictions with courage and clarity,” Musyoka noted. “His contribution to Kenya's public life and his distinctive voice in our national discourse will be remembered.”

A Journey Through Time

Their paths first crossed significantly in the early 1990s during the tumultuous transition to multi-party politics. As Jirongo masterminded the high-octane YK'92 campaign to secure President Daniel arap Moi's re-election, Musyoka was a senior figure within the ruling party, serving as its organising secretary. This era defined a generation of politicians, Jirongo and his contemporaries, who wielded immense influence and resources, forever changing the landscape of Kenyan campaign politics.

Decades later, their careers would converge again. In the run-up to the 2022 general elections, Jirongo, leading his United Democratic Party (UDP), joined forces with Musyoka's Wiper Party and other leaders to form the One Kenya Alliance. They signed a formal cooperation pact in March 2022, a testament to their shared vision for the country's leadership, though the alliance would later face its own set of political realignments.

Unanswered Questions and a Nation in Mourning

As tributes pour in from across the political divide, including from President William Ruto who eulogized his former YK'92 colleague as a “relentless go-getter,” an investigation into the crash is gaining urgency. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has released preliminary findings based on CCTV footage, indicating Jirongo's vehicle entered the highway from a petrol station moments before the fatal collision at approximately 2:19 AM EAT.

However, Jirongo's family and some political leaders have called for a deeper probe, questioning the circumstances that led him to be in Naivasha alone so late at night. These calls for clarity underscore the void left by a man who was both a powerful political operative and a two-term Member of Parliament for Lugari Constituency.

• 1992: Leads the powerful Youth for KANU '92 (YK'92) lobby group.
• 1997-2002: Serves his first term as Member of Parliament for Lugari.
• 2002: Appointed Minister for Rural Development by President Moi.
• 2007-2013: Re-elected as Lugari MP on his KADDU party ticket.
• 2017: Contests the presidency under the United Democratic Party (UDP).
• 2022: Becomes a principal in the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) alongside Kalonzo Musyoka.

“On behalf of my family and the Wiper Party, I convey my heartfelt condolences to the family of Hon. Cyrus Jirongo, his friends, and the people of Kakamega County,” Musyoka concluded, offering prayers for a family grappling with a sudden, tragic loss. As the nation awaits answers, the legacy of Cyrus Shakhalaga Khwa Jirongo—a man of immense charisma, wealth, and political influence—is remembered through the lens of a long and storied career that was, until the very end, anything but predictable.