Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations provides key update on former Lugari MP’s death, tracing Toyota Probox seen near accident scene and verifying innocent family errand.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has made significant progress in unraveling the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of former Lugari Member of Parliament and veteran politician Hon. Cyrus Jirongo, who perished in a fatal road traffic accident on December 13, 2025, along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway at Karai in Naivasha.
In a detailed progress report released on December 25, 2025, the DCI addressed public speculation sparked by CCTV footage from Eagol Petrol Station near the crash site.
The footage captured a white Toyota Probox, registration number KDJ 564E, entering the station shortly after Jirongo’s Mercedes-Benz arrived and departed moments before the deadly head-on collision with a Climax Coaches bus.
To dispel any notions of foul play, a specialized team of detectives traveled to Keringet in Kuresoi South Constituency, Nakuru County, to locate and interview individuals connected to the vehicle.
Statements recorded on-site confirmed that the Probox is registered to Hon. William Mutai, the Member of County Assembly (MCA) for Keringet Ward and Majority Leader in the Nakuru County Assembly. The vehicle is primarily managed by Mutai’s wife.
According to the accounts provided, on December 11, 2025, Mutai’s wife rented the Probox to Denis Kipyegon Koech for a family trip.
Koech needed the vehicle to transport relatives to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi to pick up their son, who was returning home from New Mexico University in the United States after completing his studies.
The family departed Keringet for Nairobi on December 12, 2025, arriving at JKIA around 5:00 p.m.
Their son’s flight landed at approximately 10:00 p.m. After navigating immigration and customs clearance, the group began their return journey to Keringet shortly after midnight.
En route back home during the early hours of December 13, poor visibility due to rainy conditions prompted them to stop at Eagol Petrol Station in Karai to refill wiper fluid. While there, they witnessed Jirongo’s vehicle exiting the station and heading toward Nairobi.
Moments later, as they completed their quick stop, they heard a deafening crash and saw a bus dragging another vehicle along the highway.
At the request of the petrol station guard, who sought assistance in rescuing the trapped driver amid the darkness and lack of immediate help, the family briefly halted near the wreckage.
They remained inside their Probox but used its headlights to illuminate the scene, aiding visibility until other motorists arrived and traffic began to build up.
Choosing not to alight, they continued their journey and reached home around 6:00 a.m., only later discovering through news reports that the victim was the prominent politician Hon. Cyrus Jirongo.
The DCI emphasized that it is rigorously verifying the credibility of these statements as part of its broader inquiry.
Detectives continue to piece together the events leading to the accident, which claimed Jirongo’s life at approximately 2:19 a.m. when his Mercedes-Benz collided head-on with the oncoming bus.
Reassuring the bereaved family, friends, and the nation, the DCI stated: “Thorough and impartial investigations into this incident are ongoing.”
The probe includes analysis of additional CCTV footage, witness testimonies from the bus passengers and petrol station staff, and forensic examinations at the scene.
Jirongo, a colorful and influential figure in Kenyan politics known for his role in the Youth for KANU ’92 movement and his stints as Lugari MP and Cabinet Minister, left behind a legacy of bold leadership.
His sudden passing has elicited widespread mourning and calls for enhanced road safety measures during the festive season.
As investigations proceed without any indication of criminal intent linked to the Probox occupants, authorities urge the public to await official findings while prioritizing caution on Kenya’s highways.
This update aims to provide transparency and quell rumors surrounding one of the country’s most high-profile recent tragedies.
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