Former Justice Minister Martha Karua has spoken about her long-standing political relationship with the late Cyrus Jirongo, revealing that their collaboration spanned several political seasons and was rooted in shared struggles and mutual respect.
Speaking during a public event, Karua recalled how she and Jirongo first crossed paths years ago while working together to secure the release of a mutual friend who was facing legal trouble. “We have collaborated with Cyrus in many political seasons. We met some years back when we were bailing out someone who was a mutual friend who is now a big person, and we then met in parliament,” Karua said. She added that the two had been planning to work together politically going forward, noting that Jirongo’s death would not erase the ideals and discussions they had shared.
Karua’s remarks came as leaders continued to pay tribute to Jirongo, a seasoned politician and businessman who once served as a Cabinet minister during former President Daniel arap Moi’s administration.
During the same event, Chama cha Kazi Party leader Moses Kuria called for a thorough investigation into Jirongo’s death. Kuria dramatically offered to purchase a customary torch to be buried alongside the deceased, citing cultural beliefs in parts of Western Kenya. In those traditions, burying a person with a torch is believed to symbolically identify those responsible for the death, with suspects expected to be revealed once the torch goes out.
Jirongo died on Saturday, December 13, in a grisly road accident along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway, sparking widespread shock and renewed debate over road safety and accountability.