Former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo has died
Former Lugari Member of Parliament (MP) Cyrus Jirongo has passed away.
Confirming his demise on Saturday morning, December 13, 2025, Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka mourned him as one of Kenya’s greatest sons.
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“Death has robbed us of one of our greatest sons. Rest in peace, Hon. Cyrus Jirongo,” Lusaka said.
On his part, COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli mourned Jirongo as an asset to the Luhya community and the country at large.
“This morning, with a lot of shock and sadness, I have learnt of the passing on of Cyrus Jirongo, who was an asset to our community and Kenya. We love him, but God loved him more,” he wrote on X.
Who is Jirongo
Jirongo was born in 1958 in Kakamega County, Western Kenya. He attended local schools before venturing into business at a young age, where he built a reputation as an aggressive and savvy entrepreneur.
His business interests over the years have included real estate, transport, and hospitality, which significantly boosted his public profile and financial standing.
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The late is best known for his influential role in Kenyan politics during the 1990s and early 2000s. He rose to national prominence as a powerful mobiliser and strategist within the former ruling party, the Kenya African National Union (KANU), before later establishing his own political movement.
His political breakthrough came in the early 1990s when he became the Chairman of Youth for KANU ’92 (YK’92), a highly influential lobby group formed to mobilise youth support for President Daniel arap Moi ahead of the 1992 multiparty elections.
Under Jirongo’s leadership, YK’92 played a central role in grassroots mobilisation, fundraising, and political messaging, making him one of the most powerful political operatives of the era.
Following the dissolution of YK’92 in 1993, Jirongo transitioned into elective politics. He was elected Member of Parliament for Lugari Constituency in 1997, a position he held until 2002.
During his time in Parliament, he was known for his strong personality, political ambition, and ability to build alliances across party lines.
After losing his parliamentary seat in 2002, Jirongo remained active in national politics. In 2011, he founded the United Democratic Movement (UDM) party and declared his intention to run for president in the 2013 general election.
