President Ruto leads Kenyans in mourning late MP Cyrus Jirongo

President William Ruto has led Kenyans in mourning former Lugari Member of Parliament Cyrus Jirongo, who died on Saturday in a tragic road accident along the Nairobi–Nakuru highway.

In a statement shared on social media, President Ruto described Jirongo as a personal friend and a towering figure in Kenya’s political and business landscape, praising him as a resilient leader whose legacy will endure.

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of my friend, former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo. Jirongo was a relentless go-getter, a seasoned businessman, and a consummate politician who refused to be defined, let alone defeated, by life’s challenges,” the President said.

He noted that Jirongo lived life on his own terms and never shied away from difficult decisions or ambitious ideas, describing him as “a fighter in every sense: blunt yet warm, bold yet approachable, enlightened and endlessly entrepreneurial.”

President Ruto also highlighted Jirongo’s generosity, saying he was always willing to uplift others using his time, resources and influence.

Tributes continued to pour in from leaders across the political divide.

Jirongo, a former presidential candidate and a key figure behind the YK92 outfit during the late President Daniel Moi’s era, was remembered as a charismatic leader whose generosity and warmth touched many lives.

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka said Jirongo’s death was a profound loss to his family, the people of Lugari and the nation, describing him as a ‘bold and charismatic leader’ whose contribution to Kenya’s public life will be remembered.

“Jirongo was a bold and charismatic leader who never shied away from standing out, challenging convention, or pursuing his convictions with courage and clarity. His contribution to Kenya’s public life and his distinctive voice in our national discourse will be remembered,” said Kalonzo.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said Kenya had lost a leader whose influence helped shape the country’s politics and business landscape for decades.

He recalled Jirongo’s role in the early 1990s during the YK ’92 movement, terming him as a visionary businessman whose footprint in real estate, including developments in Hazina, South B and Kayole’s Saika Estate, remains unmistakable.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula underscored that an indelible mark on Kenya’s political landscape as a trailblazing youth leader in the 1990s.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua remembered Jirongo as a dedicated public servant who served the people of Lugari with commitment during his tenure as MP.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on the other hand termed him a ‘feisty political organiser and astute businessman’ who left a mark on the country’s political and economic life.

Current and former legislators, alongside past and present Cabinet members, gathered at the Lee Funeral Home on Saturday morning to receive his body, as tributes continued to stream in from across the country.

They expressed deep sorrow over his passing, remembering him as a remarkable leader whose generosity and warmth touched many lives.

“In 1992 when we in KANU were almost giving up, Cyrus came up with a very strong encouragement and told President Moi that we as young people can give you support and will win this election…he did so much for this country,” former Minister Fred Gumo said.