Former President Uhuru Kenyatta. Photo/Courtesy
Jubilee Party Vice Chair David Murathe stunned attendees at Cyrus Jirongo’s memorial on Saturday at CITAM Church, Valley Road, by claiming the late politician was the real force behind Uhuru Kenyatta’s rise in KANU.
Murathe said Jirongo personally pushed former President Daniel Moi to endorse Uhuru as the party’s presidential flagbearer at a time when some of Kenya’s most powerful politicians were eyeing the position.
“It was Jirongo who made Uhuru president; he stuck bumper to bumper with Nyayo, pushing him at Kapsokwony to make the announcement,” Murathe told mourners.
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He added that party heavyweights like Saitoti, Kalonzo Musyoka, Musalia Mudavadi, and Ngala were all competing for Moi’s nod.
“Everybody was saying ‘I’m the one,’ but Jirongo pushed Nyayo until he declared Uhuru. After that, everything collapsed,” he said.
Murathe’s revelation shows Jirongo as a behind-the-scenes strategist who shaped key decisions at the highest level, setting the stage for Uhuru to later face former President Mwai Kibaki in the 2002 General Election.
The late Jirongo, remembered as a bold and influential figure, leaves behind a legacy of political maneuvering that changed Kenya’s political landscape.
Mourners at the service reflected on his fearless approach to politics and his ability to challenge established leaders.
“Jirongo was not just a politician; he was a kingmaker,” Murathe said, praising his courage and sharp political instincts.
Jirongo’s passing marks the end of an era for many who saw him as a trailblazer in Kenya’s multiparty politics.