"What Has Happened to My Friend" Robert Alai in Disbelief As Jirongo Dies in Fatal Road Accident

Kileleshwa Ward MCA Robert Alai has expressed shock and sorrow following the death of veteran politician Cyrus Shakhalaga Jirongo, who died in a road accident early Saturday morning on the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway near Karai, Naivasha, Nakuru County.

Jirongo, 64, a former Lugari MP and a key figure in Kenya’s political landscape since the 1990s, was involved in a head-on collision with a bus at around 3:00 a.m., according to Rift Valley Traffic Enforcement Officer Sarah Chumo. 

Emergency responders confirmed that he sustained fatal injuries at the scene.

In a statement shared on social media, Alai remembered Jirongo as a close friend and described him as “humorous, friendly, down-to-earth and industrious.” 

He added that Jirongo “had stories about power and life” and fondly recalled moments spent with him over beer and conversation. 

“What has happened to my friend Cyrus Jirongo? Oooh my friend CJ. What happened? RIP CJ!” Alai wrote.

Jirongo’s political career began in the early 1990s as the leader of Youth for KANU ’92 (YK92), a movement that mobilized youth during Kenya’s transition to multi-party politics. 

He later served in ministerial roles under the KANU government and remained active in national politics, contesting several parliamentary and presidential elections. 

His tenure as Lugari MP was marked by engagement with local development projects and youth empowerment initiatives.

Tributes have poured in from politicians, colleagues, and supporters across Kenya, reflecting Jirongo’s decades-long influence on the country’s political scene. 

His passing underscores the prominence of veteran political figures who shaped Kenya’s post-multi-party era.

Jirongo leaves behind a legacy of political activism and public service.