Wetang’ula Reveals Details Of Messages He Received On His Phone The Following Day Morning After His Meeting With Jirongo Hours Before Accident That Claimed His Life

The death of former Lugari MP and businessman Cyrus Jirongo continues to attract national attention, especially after National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula publicly recounted his final meeting with the late politician just hours before the fatal road accident.

Wetang’ula revealed that he met Jirongo on the evening of Jamhuri Day, describing the encounter as normal and uneventful at the time.

According to the Speaker, Jirongo personally called him and requested a meeting, which took place shortly after the national celebrations.

The two leaders reportedly sat together for about an hour, from around 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm. 

Wetang’ula said nothing during their conversation suggested that Jirongo was under distress or facing any immediate danger. After the meeting, the Speaker excused himself to rest, explaining that he had travel plans the following day.

It was only the next morning that Wetang’ula learned of Jirongo’s death. He said he woke up to messages on his phone informing him that the veteran politician had died in a road accident. The news, he noted, came as a shock and forced him to reflect on how fragile and unpredictable life can be.

“This morning, I woke up, opened my phone and saw messages saying, ‘Sorry, sorry, sorry—Jirongo has died," he said.

Jirongo died in a crash along the Nakuru–Naivasha Highway in the early hours of Saturday. Police reports indicate that his vehicle collided head-on with a passenger bus while he was driving toward Nairobi.

Authorities have maintained that the incident was a road accident, and investigations are ongoing.

However, Wetang’ula’s account has become part of a wider public conversation about Jirongo’s final movements. 

Questions have emerged over where Jirongo was headed after the meeting and how his night unfolded before the crash. The fact that he had just held meetings with senior political figures has fueled speculation and public interest.

Jirongo was not just a former MP but a seasoned political operator with deep connections across Kenya’s political landscape. 

He rose to national prominence in the early 1990s as the leader of Youth for KANU 92, a powerful political lobby group that played a major role during the country’s first multiparty elections. His influence during that period made him both admired and controversial.

Over the years, Jirongo remained active in politics and business, maintaining close relationships with leaders across different political camps. His sudden death, therefore, has raised concerns beyond the usual reaction to a road accident involving a public figure.

Some leaders and members of the public have called for greater transparency in the investigation. They argue that given Jirongo’s stature and the unanswered questions surrounding his final hours, authorities should ensure a thorough, independent, and credible probe.

These calls have grown louder following public statements by leaders who interacted with him shortly before his death.

Wetang’ula, in his remarks, did not suggest any wrongdoing or unusual behavior during their meeting. Instead, he emphasized the human reality of loss, saying that death often comes without warning. His comments were reflective rather than defensive, focusing on the suddenness of the tragedy.

Still, the Speaker’s account has added an important piece to the timeline of Jirongo’s last day.

Investigators are expected to examine CCTV footage, phone records, and witness statements to establish a clear sequence of events leading up to the crash.