The burial of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo descended into a political cauldron yesterday, with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula facing open hostility from mourners and rival leaders in their own backyard.

What was meant to be a solemn farewell for the flamboyant 'Jirongo 92' icon exposed the widening cracks in Luhya unity. As questions swirl over the "suspicious" circumstances of his death on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway, the region’s frustration with its top leadership has reached a boiling point, turning the funeral in Lumakanda into a referendum on their influence.

A Send-off Marred by Suspicion

Tension was palpable from the onset at the Lumakanda Township Primary School grounds. The arrival of former President Uhuru Kenyatta briefly brought proceedings to a halt, with mourners surging forward in a show of support that starkly contrasted the reception awaiting the government-aligned duo.

But the atmosphere turned truly volatile when former Vihiga Senator George Khaniri took the podium. Khaniri dropped a bombshell, alleging that private investigators had unearthed disturbing inconsistencies regarding the December 13 crash that claimed Jirongo's life.

"The initial report shows that when Jirongo left the Karen Oasis area in Nairobi, his vehicle was later spotted at Park Place," Khaniri told the hushed crowd. "More significantly, CCTV footage from Naivasha indicates that there were two people seated in the front of Jirongo's vehicle. Unfortunately, the investigators have not been able to identify who they were."

These claims—suggesting foul play rather than a tragic accident—fanned the flames of anger. Mourners heckled speakers who attempted to steer the conversation away from the "assassination" narrative, demanding answers from the government officials present.

The Elusive Luhya Unity

For Mudavadi and Wetang'ula, the hostility was a stinging rebuke. Despite holding the third and fourth most powerful offices in the land, they found themselves on the defensive. Critics at the funeral accused them of failing to protect the community's interests or its sons.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and his Vihiga counterpart Godfrey Osotsi did not mince words, openly questioning the government's ability—or willingness—to investigate the death impartially. "We cannot trust the same system to investigate itself," Sifuna declared, urging the family to pursue traditional avenues to uncover the truth.

The hostility underscores a growing disconnect. While Mudavadi and Wetang'ula preach unity from the top, the ground appears to be shifting. The perception that they are "comfortable" in Nairobi while the region faces economic hardships and unexplained deaths of its leaders is creating a vacuum that younger, more radical leaders are eager to fill.

A Legacy of Defiance

Jirongo, 64, was laid to rest amidst this storm, a fitting final act for a man whose career was defined by bold defiance. From leading the Youth for Kanu '92 (YK'92) movement that campaigned for President Daniel arap Moi, to his later years as a persistent critic of the status quo, Jirongo never shied away from a fight.

Family members, including his widows and children, remembered him as a generous patriarch who "loved us all and treated everyone equally." Yet, even their grief was overshadowed by the demand for justice.

As the dust settles in Lugari, the message to the region's kingpins is clear: titles alone will not command respect. Unless the cloud of suspicion over Jirongo's death is lifted, the elusive dream of Luhya unity may remain just that—a dream.