A pledge by former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko to defend the driver of a Climax bus that crashed with Cyrus Jirongo’s vehicle has taken a sharp turn. Sonko now insists the bus company must produce a full passenger manifest before he commits to providing legal aid for the driver, Tyrus Kamau Githinji.

This shift introduces a new dynamic into a tragedy that has gripped the nation, raising questions about accountability on our roads and the welfare of public service vehicle operators. Kamau faces a potential charge of causing death by dangerous driving following the collision that claimed the life of the veteran politician on December 13, 2025. If convicted under Kenya's Traffic Act, a driver can face up to ten years in prison, a stark reality that puts a driver's split-second decision and a family's loss into sharp focus.

CCTV Footage Reveals Final Moments

The incident occurred at approximately 2:19 AM in the Karai area along the deadly Nairobi-Nakuru Highway. Investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have brought critical details to light through CCTV footage from a nearby petrol station. The footage shows Jirongo's Mercedes-Benz entering the station, pausing at the exit, and then making a right turn back towards Nairobi just six seconds before the head-on impact with the Busia-bound bus.

The DCI confirmed the collision pushed Jirongo's vehicle back by about 25 metres. Tyrus Kamau, the driver, was subsequently taken into custody, interrogated, and is now out on cash bail, required to report back to the Naivasha Traffic Base on December 22, 2025, for further police action.

A Call for Eyewitnesses

Initially, Sonko had unequivocally backed the driver, praising him for a heroic choice to protect his 65 passengers rather than swerving to avoid the collision. However, his tone has since shifted. "I am 100% sure that out of the 65 passengers, there are a few who would want to shed light on this accident," Sonko noted, explaining his new condition. His demand for the manifest aligns with calls from Jirongo's family and political allies who have questioned the circumstances leading to the politician being in Naivasha at that hour.

The DCI has assured the public of a "thorough, impartial, and credible" investigation and confirmed they will be recording statements from the bus passengers and other potential witnesses. The case file will ultimately be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for review and advice.

As investigators piece together the final moments of Cyrus Jirongo's life, the fate of Tyrus Kamau hangs in the balance, his future now intertwined with the testimonies of the passengers he was ferrying that morning.