Wamalwa and Amisi demand a formal govt statement over Jirongo’s death
By Kenneth Mwenda, December 28, 2025Former Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa and Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi have questioned the government’s silence following the death of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, calling for an official explanation before his burial.
Speaking on Sunday, December 28, 2025, as Jirongo’s body arrived at his Kitale home, the two leaders said the circumstances surrounding the politician’s death remained unclear and had caused anxiety among residents of Western Kenya.
Amisi said the region was mourning amid unanswered questions and demanded a formal statement from the government.
“As people from Western, we still have questions. We are burying our brother amidst mystery surrounding his death,” Amisi said.
He faulted the lack of an official briefing from the Ministry of Interior or the presidency, despite Jirongo’s national stature and political history.
“We are not satisfied. It is a demand that the government releases a press conference detailing the circumstances surrounding the death of Cyrus Jirongo,” he added.
Amisi said the government had remained silent since Jirongo died in what was reported as a road accident, and insisted that clarity was needed before burial arrangements proceed.
“They have been quiet since the brother died in a mysterious road accident. There is no press conference to tell us what happened,” he said.
He went further to warn that cultural concerns were now emerging due to the uncertainty surrounding the death, noting that unresolved questions could affect burial traditions.
Wamalwa echoed the concerns, saying many Kenyans were still asking how Jirongo died and whether the incident was a normal accident.
“The circumstances under which he died, many people are still asking: did Cyrus Jirongo die in a normal accident or was he killed?” Wamalwa said.
He pointed to historical parallels, noting that Jirongo was a former leader of the Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU), a position once held by Ronald Ngala, who also died in a road accident.
Wamalwa said President William Ruto, who had worked closely with Jirongo in the past, should address the nation.
“Up to now, we expect the government, none other than the president himself, who was a close friend of Cyrus, to have pronounced himself on this incident,” he said.
Burial rites dispute
Their remarks came amid growing tension at Jirongo’s home in Kitale, where former Westlands MP Fred Gumo rejected proposals by Tiriki elders to conduct certain traditional burial rituals.
Gumo, who chairs the funeral committee, insisted that Jirongo’s immediate family should decide how the burial rites are conducted and warned against imposing unfamiliar customs.
He said outdated rituals should not be forced on the family, especially in the absence of a clear official position on the cause of death.
Jirongo, a former powerful political broker and businessman, died in a road accident along the Nakuru–Naivasha highway. His death has drawn national attention, with leaders across the political divide calling for transparency as burial preparations continue.