The death of Cyrus Jirongo, a former Member of Parliament for Lugari, has prompted a detailed investigation by Kenya’s top detectives, as questions linger over a deadly pre-dawn crash on one of the country’s busiest highway.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations said on Tuesday that it had opened an inquiry into the accident, which occurred early on Saturday along the Nakuru–Naivasha road, near Karai. Mr Jirongo died after his car collided head-on with a public service bus operated by Climax Company Limited.
Investigators say the crash happened shortly after 2 a.m. Preliminary findings point to a head-on collision that left both vehicles badly damaged.
“The collision occurred at approximately 2:19 a.m.,” the DCI said in a statement. “The impact pushed Mr Jirongo’s vehicle about 25 metres from the point of collision, while the bus came to rest roughly 50 metres away.”
A combined team of homicide detectives and forensic experts from the National Forensic Laboratory was dispatched to the scene. They collected exhibits and began piecing together the moments leading up to the crash.
A key part of the investigation centres on CCTV footage recovered from a nearby petrol station. According to police, the footage shows Mr Jirongo driving into the station from the Nairobi direction moments before the accident. He did not refuel. Instead, he paused at the exit before making a right turn back towards Nairobi. Seconds later, the bus is seen crashing into his vehicle.
The driver of the bus, Tyrus Kamau Githinji, has been questioned by detectives. He was released on cash bail as investigations continue into a possible charge of causing death by dangerous driving. Police said he is expected to report back to the Naivasha Traffic Base on December 22.
Statements have also been recorded from a night guard and a fuel attendant at the petrol station, both of whom witnessed events shortly before the crash.
Detectives are now widening the inquiry. They are examining Mr Jirongo’s movements earlier that night and speaking to people he met, including those present at a gathering at Karen Oasis Bar and Restaurant in Nairobi. Passengers who were on the bus, along with other witnesses, are also being interviewed.
“Further analysis of the CCTV footage is ongoing, once investigations are complete, a comprehensive file will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice,” the DCI said in a statement.
Mr Jirongo, a well-known political figure, will be buried at his home in Lumakanda on December 30. As investigators work through the evidence, his death has renewed attention on safety along the Nakuru–Naivasha highway, a stretch of road long associated with serious accidents.
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