Cyrus Jirongo. Photo: Courtesy
Cyrus Jirongo, the former Lugari MP, was already rolling in millions before he stepped into politics, a close friend revealed on Saturday during his requiem mass at CITAM Church, Valley Road.
Philip Kisia, a longtime associate of Jirongo, told mourners that the late politician’s real wealth came from sharp business acumen, not public office.
“He was an astute businessperson. He had made millions of shillings before joining politics,” Kisia said. “If you ask me, I think politics destroyed my brother Cyrus. Cyrus made no money from politics. Rather he lost.”
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According to Kisia, Jirongo’s name was synonymous with big-ticket real estate deals, prime land holdings, and some of the most complex property disputes in Kenya.
Yet, the challenges of political life gradually chipped away at what he had built.
Kisia’s account echoed earlier memories shared by other friends, who noted that Jirongo’s political ambitions brought him fame and notoriety but also legal battles, rivalries, and financial setbacks.
While he rose to national prominence, his friend said, Jirongo’s true strength lay outside the halls of Parliament — in the boardrooms and land deals where he first made his fortune.
“Politics elevated him, yes, but it also diverted him from his real calling. The empire he had built started to crumble,” Kisia added.
Jirongo, known for his fiery political style and presidential bids, leaves behind a legacy marked both by business success and political controversy — a reminder, according to friends, that the price of public life can sometimes outweigh its rewards.