Cyrus Jirongo. Photo: Courtesy
The late former Lugari Member of Parliament Cyrus Jirongo was arrested in June 2020 over a Sh25 million debt dispute, according to a detailed account by Sunday Nation journalist John Kamau.
Kamau reports that Jirongo was taken into custody and held at Muthangari Police Station following a complaint lodged by his former friend, Bryan Yongo.
The arrest was linked to an alleged unpaid debt that had strained a once-close relationship between the two.
According to the account, Jirongo was known for cultivating wide and influential networks that dated back to his school days.
He reportedly formed long-standing friendships with prominent figures including former Cabinet minister Kipruto arap Kirwa, trade unionist Francis Atwoli, businessman Mukesh Gohil, and the late Mike Rubia.
Some of these relationships, Kamau notes, began at Mang’u High School, where Jirongo and Kirwa were said to have been active in the debating club.
The journalist further states that Jirongo maintained close ties with influential political figures, among them Gideon Moi.
Associates cited in the report claim that Moi occasionally offered financial support and assistance during difficult moments in Jirongo’s life.
These connections, Kamau writes, were central to Jirongo’s ability to mobilise political and social support.
Despite his influence, Jirongo’s career was also marked by repeated legal and financial challenges.
Kamau notes that trouble often followed him, particularly in matters involving money and business dealings.
The 2020 arrest, he says, was one such episode that brought his private financial disputes into public view.
The report further claims that Jirongo’s release from custody required high-level intervention.
It is stated that President Uhuru Kenyatta intervened, leading to Jirongo’s release after he had been detained at the Nairobi police station.