Cyrus Jirongo, the former Member of Parliament for Lugari, tragically passed away on Saturday, December 13, following a fatal road accident in the Karai area of Naivasha, along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway. Cyrus Jirongo’s death comes months after his daughter Lorraine died. The accident involved his car and a passenger bus, resulting in his death on the spot. Jirongo, who served as the Minister for Rural Development during President Daniel arap Moi’s administration, was a prominent figure in Kenya’s political landscape. What happened to Cyrus Jirongo’s daughter? His passing marks the second major tragedy to strike the Jirongo family this year, as he had earlier mourned the death of his daughter, Lorraine Elizabeth Khalamwa Jelagat Jirongo.
Lorraine, 33, passed away in March after a short illness, leaving behind three children: Jabari Berur, Michaela Berur, and Aria Jebaibai Berur. At Lorraine’s funeral service held at AIC Milimani in Nairobi, Jirongo lightened the mood by sharing a humorous story about his relationship with his daughter’s mother, Carolyne. Jirongo fondly remembered Carolyne as the most beautiful woman in Kitale and joked that with his “big eyes,” he couldn’t have failed to notice her. He recalled how their marriage initially seemed perfect, with Lorraine being their firstborn, but admitted that his wandering eyes eventually led to their separation. “She could not stand my bad character,” Jirongo candidly said, which drew laughter from the mourners. Jirongo revealed that Carolyne later remarried his friend, Munyua Waiyaki, and invited him to speak during the service. Waiyaki, making light of the situation, acknowledged that he “stepped in” when Jirongo lost focus.
The two families took the opportunity to introduce their children, with Waiyaki’s firstborn son meeting his older siblings for the first time. Despite the grief surrounding Lorraine’s death, the funeral highlighted the resilience, love, and support within the Jirongo family.
By William Osoro
