As the soil settled on the grave of Cyrus Jirongo today, the government moved swiftly to address the swirling speculation regarding the crash that claimed the life of the Moi-era power broker.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, speaking at the private interment in Lumakanda, pledged a forensic unraveling of the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway collision. The commitment comes as pressure mounts from political elites and the public for a formal inquest into the sudden demise of the controversial tycoon.

A Promise of Transparency

Mudavadi stood before mourners at Jirongo’s farm in Lugari, directly addressing the whispers that have permeated the country since the accident. He emphasized that the state’s objective is absolute transparency, acknowledging the public's hunger for answers.

“We want everything to do with his death laid bare so that, if there was foul play, those involved are brought to account,” Mudavadi asserted, his tone grave.

The Prime CS sought to lower the political temperature, adding that the investigation would be exhaustive. “And if it was not foul play, then let the will of God prevail. There shall be nothing to hide,” he noted.

The End of an Era

Jirongo was not merely a former Cabinet Minister; he was a defining figure of Kenya's political history in the early 1990s. As the face of the 'Youth for Kanu '92' (YK'92) movement, his influence—and the infamous 500-shilling note often associated with him—left an indelible mark on the nation's psyche.

His death has reignited conversations around three critical issues affecting Kenyans today:

• Road Safety Crisis: The Nairobi–Nakuru Highway remains a notorious blackspot, claiming lives indiscriminately, from boda boda riders to cabinet ministers.
• Political Accountability: The demand for an inquest highlights a lingering deficit of trust between the public and state institutions regarding high-profile deaths.
• Historical Legacy: The passing of Moi-era titans signals a shifting of the guard in Western Kenya's political landscape.

Political Undercurrents

While the ceremony was restricted to close family and friends—a stark contrast to the flamboyant public rallies that defined Jirongo's career—the political weight of the event was palpable. Former President Uhuru Kenyatta was among the mourners, navigating the delicate balance of grief and politics.

Amidst the tributes, Kenyatta took a moment to defend the opposition, signaling that even in death, Jirongo remains a catalyst for political discourse. However, the day ultimately belonged to the family, who laid their patriarch to rest away from the glare of the media cameras that had followed him for decades.