- The death of Cyrus Jirongo sparked debate among Kenyans regarding the circumstances surrounding his sudden demise
- Pathologist Joseph Ndung’u released a detailed report about the injuries he sustained, which led to his instant death at the accident scene
- The family refuted initial police reports, and inconsistencies emerged in witness accounts of the politician’s final moments
Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features in digital and print media.
A postmortem conducted on the body of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo on Wednesday, December 17, confirmed the cause of his death.
Source: Facebook
Jirongo died in a road crash in Naivasha on Saturday, December 13, while reportedly travelling to Nairobi. His death sparked debate among leaders and ordinary citizens, with many questioning the circumstances surrounding the accident.
What caused Cyrus Jirongo’s death?
The examination, carried out by three pathologists, established that Jirongo died as a result of blunt force trauma caused by multiple injuries.
Joseph Ndung’u, the family’s pathologist, explained:
“We examined the body of the late Jirongo and found multiple injuries. There were two fractures in the right hand, injuries to the lower lip and legs, a crash injury to the chest with multiple rib fractures, perforation of the heart with rupture of major vessels, bleeding into the chest cavity, a crash injury to the abdomen with liver damage, and transection of the spinal cord at the thoracic level. As a result of our examination, we formed an opinion that Jirongo died as a result of a crash injury to the chest, the abdomen and also the spinal cord injuries due to blunt force trauma.”
The accident occurred when Jirongo’s Mercedes-Benz collided with a Climax bus heading to Busia, throwing him several metres from the scene.
What did witnesses say about Jirongo’s death?
Following the sudden death of former Lugari MP, the driver of the Climax bus involved in the accident claimed that Jirongo had swerved into his lane, making the collision unavoidable.
The crash occurred just minutes after Jirongo passed through a petrol station. A security guard at the station stated that Jirongo did not stop to refuel but instead drove through at a moderate speed before entering the Nairobi lane, where he was struck and pushed aside.
A boda boda rider alleged that Jirongo had dropped off a woman shortly before the crash, while another witness who inspected the wrecked car claimed that a woman’s property was found inside the vehicle.
Although the family dismissed the initial police report, Vihiga senator George Khaniri noted that Jirongo was known to drive himself during evening strolls but emphasised that he never took the wheel while intoxicated.
Source: UGC
Is the government scandalising Jirongo’s death?
Meanwhile, while reacting to the speculation, a former nominated senator, Gloria Orwoba, accused the government of scandalising Jirongo’s death.
She argued that the politician lived his life openly and honestly, adding that his true nature ultimately cost him his life.
Orwoba urged Kenyans to empathise with bereaved families enduring overwhelming grief, rather than generalising all politicians and spreading hate during their deaths.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
