Survivors of fatal Jirongo crash arrive in Busia after harrowing night
By Eric Juma, December 13, 2025More than 50 passengers destined to Busia who escaped unhurt after a Nairobi-bound Climax bus collided with a private car that left Former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo dead, have finally reached their destinations.
The crash occurred around 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2025, along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway.
Simion Baraza, one of the passengers, vividly described the sequence of events that led to the fatal crash, revealing how a fateful overtaking manoeuvre by the private car driver resulted in a catastrophic collision with a bus.
“We thank God who saved our lives in the wee hours of the night when a bus we were travelling in hit a private vehicle belonging to Jirongo. We had a long Friday night. My family had to put me into prayer after they could not communicate with me. I could hear my mum trying to reach me on the phone, but the phone was far away; it had flipped off after the accident, Baraza said.
“We had boarded the climax bus and were destined to Busia, in fact, to stop at Matayos, and the accident delayed our trip. The incident occurred at around 2 a.m., and we had to wait for another vehicle for 5 hours. We had a long hour of waiting and up to now we are tired. It’s a tedious journey, but I have arrived safely and thank God for His grace and Mercy is sufficient,“ Baraza added.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Emily Wanjala, a businesswoman who was travelling back to Busia after she had gone to purchase Mitumba Clothes in Nairobi on Thursday.
“I have finally touched Busia, my hometown and ready to continue with my business. God should be praised forever,” Emily said.
“When I saw the wreckage of the private car that was crashed and damage and dent left on the Climax bus, it’s true that God favoured us. We are a living testimony. December is known to be the worst month in terms of road tragedies, but we are alive today despite our vehicle crashing into a private car,” Emily added.
Also recounting the ordeal, Reuben Baraza, a Climax bus conductor who came to the rescue of the passengers, revealed that all the occupants of the bus emerged from the accident in one piece.
“After the passengers were rescued, arrangements were made to have another Public Service Vehicle (PSV) ferry the passengers to their destination. We have managed to get the passengers to their destinations and have safely parked our vehicle at the Busia border,” he said.
Bus driver speaks
Tiras Kamau, the driver of the Climax Coaches bus involved in a head-on collision, while recounting the sequence of events in the tragic crash, said the Mercedes-Benz involved was exiting a petrol station and entered the highway without giving way.
“The Mercedes was coming out of a petrol station while I was heading from Nairobi to Busia. The car did not give way when joining the road,” he said in an address to the press on December 13, 2025.
Kamau added that traffic congestion prompted Cyrus Jirongo to enter his lane, resulting in the accident.
“He saw that the road was congested and decided to enter my lane. That’s when we collided head-on,” Githinji recounted.