Central Organisation of Trade Unions-Kenya (COTU-K) secretary general Francis Atwoli
Central Organisation of Trade Unions-Kenya (COTU-K)
secretary general Francis Atwoli has shared touching details about the late
former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, recalling his love for driving himself despite
having the means to employ a driver.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV’s JK Live, Atwoli
said Jirongo had a deep passion for driving and enjoyed being behind the wheel
of his cars.
According to Atwoli, this preference remained unchanged even
late at night, when safety concerns would normally prompt many leaders to rely
on drivers or security personnel.
“He loved driving. It is not like he could not afford a
driver or a bodyguard. All his cars were Mercedes Benz or other expensive
cars,” Atwoli said.
“He is one of those people who had a passion for driving
and enjoying his car.”
“He used to come to
my place in Kajiado and I could tell him, ‘Cyrus, why don’t you have a driver,
especially when it is late like this?’ and he would say, ‘Francis, forget about
it,’ and insist that he could drive himself and find his way home,” Atwoli
narrated.
Jirongo died on December 13, 2025, following a fatal road
accident along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway near Karai, Naivasha.
He was 64 years old. The accident occurred at around 3:00
a.m. as he was driving toward Nairobi when his Mercedes-Benz vehicle collided
head-on with a Climax Company passenger bus.
He was alone in the car and was pronounced dead at the scene
after sustaining severe injuries.
A post-mortem examination later revealed that Jirongo died
from extensive crush and blunt force trauma, including multiple rib fractures,
a perforated heart, and severe internal injuries to the chest and abdomen.
During the interview, Atwoli also recalled how he received
the devastating news of Jirongo’s death while he was abroad.
“When I was told Cyrus is no more after having an accident
in Naivasha, I became sick. I was in London,” he said.
He added that he immediately called former Westlands MP Fred
Gumo to express his condolences and solidarity with the family.
Upon returning to Kenya, Atwoli said he visited Jirongo’s
home in Gigiri to personally condole with the family.
He described Jirongo as a unifying figure whose influence
cut across ethnic lines.
“Cyrus was the heart of Mulembe Nation, he was the heart of
Kenyans,” Atwoli said, noting that Jirongo was not tribal and had built a
family that reflected Kenya’s diversity.
Atwoli also dismissed claims that Jirongo was involved in
questionable dealings, saying he was a man of integrity.
“Cyrus would come to you and borrow money instead of getting
into scandals. He was not a scandalous person, not someone you would find in
dirty deals,” he said.
He added that Jirongo had built his own business empire
through hard work, running several companies and believing in earning a living
in a straightforward manner.