Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa has intensified calls for an independent and formal inquest into the death of former Lugari MP and businessman Cyrus Jirongo.

Speaking on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, in Lumakanda, Kakamega County, during the burial ceremony of the late politician, Wamalwa accused the government of issuing contradictory statements that have fuelled public mistrust and suspicion.

The former Defence Cabinet Secretary questioned the credibility of official investigations, arguing that senior security agencies appear to be working at cross purposes over the circumstances surrounding Jirongo’s fatal road accident.

“In a situation like this where we have conflicting statements from the same government, the buck stops with the President,” Wamalwa said, expressing concern over what he termed as confusion within the security apparatus.

Conflicting narratives

Wamalwa pointed to reports by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), where Director Mohamed Amin reportedly stated that investigators had identified and traced a Probox vehicle alleged to have been following Jirongo at a petrol station, concluding that there was no foul play involved.

However, he contrasted this with comments made a day later by Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli, who told mourners at Jirongo’s home in Kitale that fresh forensic investigations were yet to be conducted.

“Tumemsikia yule Amin wa DCI akisema kwamba kuna ile gari probox ambayo ilikuwa inamfuata ndugu yetu Jirongo kwa ile petrol station; eti wamefanya uchunguzi, sijui wakapata mwenye gari, kwa hivo they have ruled out any foul play. Meaning, according to the DCI of Kenya, washafanya uchunguzi wao, wamemaliza na wamerule out any foul play,” Wamalwa said.

“Jana, DIG Masengeli ametuambia hapa Kitale kwa boma la Jirongo yakwamba sasa ndio wanaenda kufanya uchunguzi, that they are going to do forensic investigations. Which is which? What kind of government is this, where the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing? Si kuna shida hapa jamani?“

Doubts among Kenyans

Wamalwa further said the conflicting narratives have only deepened doubts among Kenyans and leaders from the Western region, who are demanding transparency and accountability.

He insisted that only an independent and credible inquest, separate from state agencies, can restore public confidence and give the Jirongo family closure.

“Hii ndo inafanya sisi tunasema hapa kwamba maswala yote yameulizwa na viongozi hapa lazima yajibiwe na lazima yajibiwe na serikali ya Kenya. Na kwa sababu ishaonekana serikali hii haijui mbele wala nyuma, na kwa hivo hatuezi tukaiamini. So, we are calling for an independent and formal inquest into the death of Cyrus Jirongo,” he said.

Khaniri raises concerns

Former Vihiga Senator George Khaniri has also demanded a thorough forensic investigation into Jirongo’s death, arguing that there are still so many glaring gaps.

According to Khaniri, private investigators hired by the family have established that Jirongo’s vehicle had another passenger at the time it entered a petrol station shortly before the fatal crash.

Khaniri, while addressing the mourners, called on the investigators to explain how Jirongo was the only person found in the vehicle after the crash, when CCTV footage shows that there was another mystery person in the car.

Jirongo died on December 13, 2025, after his car was involved in a head-on collision with a bus ferrying passengers from Nairobi at the Karai area in Naivasha, along the busy Nakuru-Nairobi highway.