A pathology report has established that the late Cabinet Minister Cyrus Jirongo died from severe crush injuries to the chest sustained in a road crash in Naivasha last week.
The injuries were caused by blunt force trauma, according to pathologists who conducted the postmortem examination.
Government pathologist Johansen Oduor, alongside family-appointed pathologists, disclosed the findings on Wednesday, December 17, while addressing the media at Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi, where the procedure was carried out.
Pathologists reported that Jirongo sustained extensive injuries to the chest, including a perforated heart, as well as to the abdomen. These injuries were identified as the primary cause of death.
According to the report, the deceased suffered multiple fractures, including two fractures on the right hand and fractures on both lower limbs.
The examination further revealed multiple rib fractures, perforation of the heart, extensive chest injuries, and bleeding into the chest cavity, with crush injuries extending into the abdominal region.
"There were two fractures in the right hand, as well as fractures on both limbs. The chest sustained multiple rib fractures, perforation of the heart, extensive chest injuries, bleeding in the chest cavity, and crush injuries extending into the abdomen," the report read in part.
According to the family doctor, Martin Wanyoike, the injuries that the politician sustained would not allow him to survive the crash.
"As a heart doctor, I witnessed a very severe injury to the heart, and those injuries are not compatible with the heart. We are sincerely sorry to the family," Wanyoike said.
On Tuesday, the DCI announced that it had obtained CCTV footage from the petrol station near where the incident occurred. Additionally, the driver of the Climax Company Ltd bus involved in the incident has been re-summoned for further police action.
The footage shows Jirongo driving into the petrol station from the Nairobi direction at 2:18:40am, though not to refuel. At 2:19:10am, he stopped at the station exit, and at 2:19:19am, he made a right turn to head back towards Nairobi. At 2:19:25am, the CCTV captured a PSV bus ramming into his vehicle.
The collision occurred at about 2:19am on December 13 and resulted in a head-on impact that pushed Jirongo’s vehicle approximately 25 metres from the point of impact, while the bus came to a stop about 50 metres away.
Detectives said that they 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.
