Government Chief Pathologist Johansen Oduor has revealed that former Lugari Member of Parliament Cyrus Jirongo succumbed to severe chest injuries sustained in a road accident on November 28, 2025, along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.
The post-mortem examination, conducted at the Umash Funeral Home in Nairobi on December 16, 2025, established that the primary cause of death was massive internal bleeding from blunt force trauma to the chest.
Oduor told journalists after the autopsy that the impact ruptured Jirongo's left ventricle and severed the aorta, the main artery carrying blood from the heart. "The injuries were catastrophic," Oduor said. "The left ventricle of the heart was ruptured, and the aorta was completely severed. There was massive haemorrhaging into the chest cavity, leading to instant death."
The pathologist explained that the pattern of injuries was consistent with a high-impact head-on collision, where the chest struck the steering wheel or dashboard despite airbag deployment.
Jirongo, 62, was driving a Toyota Prado from Nairobi toward Nakuru when the vehicle collided with an oncoming Climax Coaches bus near the Longonot weighbridge at approximately 2:20 a.m. The former MP died on the spot, while the bus driver and several passengers sustained injuries.
Family members who attended the autopsy, including Jirongo's elder brother Kennedy Kiliku and widow Grace Jirongo, expressed relief at the findings. "We now know exactly what killed our brother," Kennedy said outside the mortuary. "There was no foul play; it was the sheer force of the crash. We can now plan the burial in peace."
Grace Jirongo thanked the pathologist for the thorough examination. "The doctor explained everything clearly," she said. "Cyrus suffered massive internal injuries. We accept God's will and ask for privacy as we prepare to lay him to rest."
The autopsy also ruled out other contributing factors such as alcohol or drugs, with toxicology results returning negative. Oduor confirmed that Jirongo had no pre-existing conditions that could have caused sudden loss of control.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations attended the procedure to collect evidence for the ongoing probe. Naivasha DCI boss Joseph Rotich said the findings align with preliminary investigations. "The post-mortem confirms death by road traffic trauma," Rotich said. "We are awaiting mechanical reports on both vehicles and statements from the bus driver to complete the file."
The Climax bus driver, who sustained fractures, remains hospitalised but is expected to record a statement once discharged.
Jirongo's family has scheduled the burial for December 21, 2025, at his Lugari home in Kakamega County. Leaders from across the political divide are expected to attend, including President William Ruto, who sent condolences immediately after the accident.
Former colleagues remembered Jirongo as a fiery debater and champion of Western Kenya interests during his tenure from 1992 to 2007. "He was a lion in Parliament," former Vice President Musalia Mudavadi said. "His death is a big loss to the nation."
The accident has renewed calls for enhanced safety measures on the busy Nairobi-Nakuru corridor, which records over 200 fatalities annually.
