The driver of a Climax Coach bus involved in the tragic road accident that claimed the life of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo has shared his account of the harrowing moments leading up to the crash, describing a split-second decision that left him with no safe options.
The accident happened early Saturday morning, December 13, 2025, along the Nakuru Naivasha Highway.
Kamau Githinji, who has been a Climax Coach driver for eight years, said he was traveling from Nairobi to Busia with 65 passengers on board when the collision occurred.
According to Githinji, the Mercedes-Benz driven by Jirongo joined the highway from a petrol station and failed to give way.
He explained that traffic was heavy on the other side of the road, prompting the car to veer into his lane.
“The Mercedes entered the road and, seeing traffic on its side, came straight toward me,” Githinji recalled. “We ended up meeting head-on.”
Faced with the danger, Githinji said he briefly thought about swerving to avoid the impact. However, he quickly realized that doing so could have caused the bus to overturn, putting the lives of all his passengers at risk.
“I tried to save the situation, but I felt the bus could roll,” he said. “So I stayed in my lane, and he came straight into me.”
Githinji noted that while the Mercedes had only one occupant the driver his bus was carrying dozens of passengers, a reality that weighed heavily on his decision in those critical seconds.
He added that he only learned the identity of the Mercedes-Benz driver after police arrived at the scene.
“I didn’t know it was Cyrus Jirongo until the officers told me,” he said, offering his condolences to the former MP’s family.
Police confirmed that Jirongo sustained severe head injuries and died at the scene.
His death has sparked widespread mourning, with political leaders, trade unionists, and members of the public paying tribute to a man who played a significant role in Kenya’s political landscape.
