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I was in school with his daughter: Winnie Odinga discloses ties with Jirongo’s family
13th December, 2025 10:25 PM
East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament (MP) Winnie Odinga has mourned the late former Lugari Member of Parliament, Cyrus Jirongo, as a strong leader who contributed to making changes in the country.
Speaking on Saturday, December 13, 2025, in Gatanga, Murang’a County, Winnie described the deceased as an astute politician whose contribution even saw the Ksh500 note named after him.
Watch: Former minister Cyrus Jirongo dies in Naivasha road crash
“Jirongo was a strong man who, even back in the day, a Ksh500 note used to be called Jirongo. He was a member of YK and did a lot of things, including making a lot of changes to this country,” Winnie eulogised Jirongo.
Family ties
At the same time, Winnie Odinga revealed that she schooled with Jirongo’s daughter, who unfortunately passed on in March 2025. Elizabeth Jirongo died on March 10, 2025, after a short illness.
Besides schooling with Jirongo’s daughter, Winnie noted that she had known Jirongo’s family since she was a kid.
“Ningependa kutoa pole kwa familia ya bwana Jirongo. Familia ambayo nimejua since I was a child. I was in school with his daughter, who also unfortunately passed away this year,” Winnie said.
“Kwa hivo tunapenda kusema pole kwa watu wa Lugari, the family and friends,” she added.
Fatal accident
Jirongo died after he was involved in a head-on collision in the Karai area along the Nakuru–Naivasha highway at around 3 am on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
The former lawmaker was driving a Mercedes-Benz vehicle model from Nakuru towards Nairobi when he failed to keep to his lane and collided head-on with an oncoming vehicle owned by Climax Company.
Jirongo sustained severe head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
President William Ruto led the nation in mourning Jirongo, describing him as a close friend and a rare personality whose life was defined by resilience, courage, and generosity.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of my friend, former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo,” Ruto’s statement read in part
The president went on to reflect on Jirongo’s determination and refusal to be limited by adversity, noting that he embodied the spirit of self-made leadership.
“Jirongo was a relentless go-getter, a seasoned businessman, and a consummate politician who refused to be defined, let alone defeated, by life’s challenges,” he said.
