Leaders from the opposition, led by Democracy for the Citizens party leader Rigathi Gachagua, have called on National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula to give an account of what transpired when he met the late Cyrus Jirongo hours before his death.
Speaking to the media after visiting Jirongo's home in Nairobi on December 16, the leaders demanded full accountability and a quick investigation into the death of the former minister.
Gachagua questioned the silence of the leaders and individuals who were together with Cyrus Jirongo in Karen on the night of his death.
"Kenyans are asking, who were the last people to be seen with Cyrus Jirongo? Why are they quiet? Speaker Wetang'ula should have given a very good account of what his plans were and where he was going," Gachagua said.
The DCP leader further likened Cyrus Jirongo's death to that of J.M. Kariuki, who he alleges was killed in the presence of his kinsmen.
Kariuki's death in March 1975 is widely considered a political assassination, however, the case remains officially unsolved, and no one has ever been convicted for the crime. A parliamentary inquiry implicated senior government and police officials, but no action was taken after that.
Gachagua's concerns were, however, answered by the burial planning committee chairperson, former Westlands MP Fred Gumo, in the same media briefing, who claimed that the National Assembly Speaker visited Jirongo's home on Sunday, December 14, where he explained what transpired.
According to Gumo, Wetang'ula explained that he was with Jirongo in Karen on December 13, until 9:30pm, when the Speaker excused himself from the meeting, leaving Jirongo with two other friends whom Gumo did not name.
Gumo revealed that the autopsy will be done on Wednesday, December 17, to determine the cause of Jirongo's death.
During the interviews, the leaders demanded a quick investigation into Jirongo's death, asking President Ruto to direct the DCI to provide answers quickly.
They also demanded accounts from passengers of the bus that collided with Jirongo's car, leading to his death.
In a statement earlier in the day, the DCI revealed that a preliminary investigation established that the accident indeed occurred on the night of December 13, at the Karai along the Nakuru–Nairobi Highway, amid speculations on social media that the scene might have been tampered with.
Detectives are also examining Jirongo’s movements before the crash, including recording statements from individuals he interacted with earlier that night, notably those present at a meeting at Karen Oasis Bar and Restaurant in Nairobi.
The leaders mourned the former minister, Cyrus Jirongo, as a truthful man who stood firm by the truth.
