Former President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday joined family members, political leaders, and residents of Kakamega County for the burial of former Lugari Member of Parliament Cyrus Jirongo at his Lumakanda home.
Uhuru arrived at the burial ceremony shortly after 11:30 a.m., during an ongoing sermon, briefly interrupting proceedings as mourners rose to acknowledge his presence.
The preacher paused momentarily to allow the former Head of State to take his seat before the service resumed.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi was also among the leaders in attendance as hundreds gathered to pay their last respects to the late politician, remembered for his influence in national politics and deep roots in the community.
Jirongo died on December 13 following a tragic road accident along the Nakuru–Nairobi Highway. He was travelling in his private vehicle when it collided head-on with a passenger bus at the Karai area.
An autopsy conducted at Lee Funeral Home revealed that the 64-year-old succumbed to blunt force trauma, which caused severe injuries to his chest and abdomen. The report also indicated injuries to the spine and legs. The postmortem was carried out in the presence of family pathologist Dr Joseph Ndung’u and Chief Government Pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has since launched investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.
On Sunday, Jirongo’s body was transported to his Kitale home for an overnight vigil ahead of the burial. Security was heightened as mourners streamed in, with several security agencies deployed at his Lumakanda residence.
Elders identified the burial site within the family compound, where Jirongo was laid to rest next to his parents and elder brother.
Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera, who was actively involved in burial arrangements, said the family worked closely with government officials and friends to ensure the former legislator received a dignified send-off.
“We have worked closely with friends and the government to ensure that we give him a befitting burial because he was a loved man across the country,” Nabwera said.
