On Monday, December 15, the national dailies reported on the controversies surrounding the road accident that killed former Lugari member of parliament Cyrus Jirongo.
Source: UGC
The papers also reported on President William Ruto’s fierce criticism of former vice-president Kalonzo Musyoka ahead of the 2027 poll.
1. The Standard
The paper reported on President William Ruto’s strong criticism of Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
Speaking in Kiambu on Sunday, December 14, Ruto accused Kalonzo of undermining his transformation agenda and plan to develop the country’s infrastructure and leading efforts to discredit it.
Ruto has consistently championed Kenya’s potential to rise to the level of advanced economies such as Singapore, but he noted that his vision has been met with resistance from rivals who dismiss his plans as unrealistic or insincere.
Ruto indirectly targeted Kalonzo, describing him as a leader who, despite holding senior positions in past governments, had little to show in terms of development.
The president argued that Kalonzo lacked the moral authority to lecture others on progress, saying Kenyans should not rely on leaders who failed to deliver when they had the chance.
2. Daily Nation
The publication reported on the rising cases of deadly accidents across major roads in the country ahead of the festive season.
In Nyamira county, eight members of the same family died on Saturday, December 13, after the vehicle they were travelling in was involved in a head-on collision with a trailer at the Bw’arani– Tombe area along the Kericho–Nyamira Road.
Jones Kebaso said four of his relatives were affected by the crash, which occurred at about 8pm.
His sister-in-law and a nephew died, while two other relatives were admitted to Nyamira County Referral Hospital in critical condition with severe head injuries and are currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
In Homa Bay county, ten people from the same family died after their vehicle collided with two lorries in the Chabera area.
3. The Star
Police forensic experts have dismissed the official narrative surrounding the death of former Lugari MP and Regional Development Minister Cyrus Jirongo.
According to the expert report, the reconstruction of the scene reveals that the fatal accident was not a simple head-on collision with a bus.
The police findings suggest that the Mercedes-Benz E350 carrying Jirongo was first struck violently in its rear-left quarter with a heavier, faster vehicle, unlike the cited Climax Sacco bus, while the car was slow-moving or decelerating.
“The Mercedes-Benz E350 was first struck at the rear-left by a faster, heavier vehicle, then destroyed in a secondary, high-energy frontal impact that caused fatal internal trauma,” the brief reads.
The initial impact caused severe localised damage, shattering the left tail lamp inward and distorting the wheel area; then it was propelled into a secondary, frontal collision with a rigid object, possibly the bus itself or a roadside structure.
The second impact, marked by severe frontal damage, a-pillar deformation, and firewall intrusion, was the lethal event, likely causing fatal internal injuries or spinal trauma due to the forces involved, often with limited external signs.
Police experts are looking at two theories: Jirongo’s steering wheel could have been locked remotely, forcing him to lose control, and Jirongo could have been poisoned, hence causing him to lose his consciousness.
According to the report, a rear-quarter strike would typically not trigger front airbags. A subsequent frontal impact should have deployed them, raising questions about sensor integrity and occupant positioning.
“The description ‘head-on collision with a bus’ implies a single opposing-direction impact and does not reflect the evidence,” the report read.
The findings directly contradict earlier media reports of a head-on collision, instead describing a two-stage event. It asserts there was a rear-quarter impact followed by a secondary frontal crash.
4. Taifa Leo
The Kiswahili publication reported on EALA Member of Parliament Winnie Odinga’s stand regarding the 2027 General Election.
Winnie, the daughter of the late former prime minister, declared that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party will field a presidential candidate in the upcoming election.
Speaking in Murang’a County on Saturday, December 13, Winnie also dismissed claims of factions within ODM, saying the party continues to be guided by collective leadership under Oburu Oginga.
“I don’t know where you have seen those factions. The party leader is my uncle. I love him. He is the only father I have left. There is never a day I would be in a faction, and he is not there. He is the head of my family, and I am always with him,” Winnie said.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
