Salasya slams casual handling of Jirongo’s crash, demands accountability

Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has called for accountability following the road crash that claimed the life of former Lugari MP and United Democratic Party leader Cyrus Jirongo, faulting what he described as the casual handling of the case by authorities and the bus company involved.

In a statement shared on his X account on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, Salasya questioned the conduct of the driver involved in the accident and the silence from Climax Bus management after the fatal crash.

Also watch: Questions emerge over death of former MP Cyrus Jirongo

“Sijai ona driver kimbelembele non remorseful driver like wa Climax bus. How do you even get the guts to speak casually about the accident as if nothing serious happened, and how can Climax management mute like nothing happened?” Salasya stated.

The legislator argued that the police should have issued a detailed report capturing statements from all parties involved, including the driver, conductor, passengers and eyewitnesses. He also questioned the decision to allow the driver to speak publicly about the accident outside the police station, saying it was unprofessional and unethical.

“Let me not overthink but it could have been better for the police to give a detailed report from both the driver, the conductor, the passengers and the eyewitness. And allowing the driver to state the accident inside the police station wasn’t a good idea or ethical in terms of professionalism,” he said.

Salasya further criticised Climax Bus management for failing to issue an official statement based on their own internal investigation into the crash.

“I think it could have been even better for the Climax management to give an official statement from their own investigation,” he added.

Raising concerns over road safety in the country, the Mumias East MP said Kenya was not serious enough when it comes to addressing the causes of road accidents, despite dozens of lives being lost daily.

“I think we are never serious sometimes as a nation on matters of causes of accidents and how to go about it in solving the problem that is claiming dozens of lives daily on roads,” Salasya stated.

Also watch: Tiras Kamau Githinji recounts events before the crash that killed former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo

He also questioned the circumstances surrounding the crash, pointing out inconsistencies in the visible damage on the vehicles involved.

“Or should we say the way it entered the Climax head collision, while at the back, there was an impact of dragging up here in the middle of the rear and the driver’s seat. I don’t see any impact,” he said.

Looking ahead, Salasya said he intends to push for reforms in road safety laws, drawing from practices he has observed abroad.

“Anyway, my concern is going forward, I am bringing a lot of reforms on road safety laws, the ones I have learned in America and mandatory taking of photos and videos on the scene of accidents for evidence,” he stated.

Road safety

The MP also expressed concern after seeing photos of the Climax bus and a Mercedes vehicle at a police station, saying images from the actual accident scene were missing.

“I just saw a picture of Climax and this Mercedes at the police station. I didn’t see the scene,” he said.

Salasya noted that he had been out of the country for about a month and was only catching up on events through social media.

“Anyway let me not say much because I have not been in Kenya for about one month, I’m just learning many things happening on social media,” he said.

Also watch: Boni Khalwale eulogizes late Cyrus Jirongo as a bold and exemplary leader

In his statement, Salasya also paid tribute to the late Cyrus Jirongo, recalling his past political association with him and the United Democratic Party.

“Rip CJ party leader UDP. I remember I was once in your party and discussed politics with you, using your party to vie for Mumias East MP in 2022 and you supported me to some extent,” Salasya said.

He added that he later left the party after learning about a planned nomination contest with his opponent.

“It’s only when I heard about the nomination with my opponent in the same party that I escaped a little because I fear nominations in any political party like a plague,” he stated.

Jirongo died in a road accident on Saturday, December 13, 2025. The crash occurred early in the morning at around 3:00 am at Karai area along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway near Naivasha in Nakuru County. Jirongo’s Mercedes-Benz E350 collided head-on with a Climax bus that was travelling with passengers bound for Busia. He died on the spot.