The accident, which occurred in the early hours of December 13 along the Nairobi–Naivasha highway, involved a Climax Coaches bus and a Mercedes-Benz vehicle in which Jirongo was travelling.
The incident shocked the nation and triggered intense debate on social media, with many Kenyans questioning the timing, passenger numbers and movements of the bus.
In a detailed statement, Climax Coaches said the bus, registration number KCU 576A, departed Nairobi at around 10pm from the Muthurwa Railways terminal, headed for Busia.
The bus reportedly stopped in Kibera, Darajani, Kawangware, Kangemi and Gitaru, picking up passengers at each location.
By the time it exited Nairobi, the bus had a total of 46 passengers who had boarded from the company’s designated offices and were properly captured in the official manifest.
However, Climax Coaches acknowledged that the total number of passengers on board at the time of the crash was 51.
The company explained that five additional passengers were picked up along the Nairobi–Naivasha highway, a practice common among long-distance operators, though one that has raised concerns among regulators and the public.
“The total number of passengers was 51, but only 46 were captured in the official manifest,” said Daniel Mwangi, the company’s lawyer.
“All passengers picked from our offices were properly booked and recorded. The additional passengers boarded later along the route.”
The company said it was alerted of the accident at around 2:36am by the driver, after which emergency measures were taken.
An empty Climax bus travelling from Western Kenya was dispatched to rescue the stranded passengers and continue the journey.
Climax Coaches strongly denied claims circulating online that the crash was anything other than a tragic road accident.
The company dismissed allegations of foul play or conspiracy, insisting it has fully cooperated with investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the police.
“We categorically deny any involvement in conspiracy theories being peddled on social media,” Mwangi said.
“Investigations by relevant authorities have so far established that this was a normal road accident.”
According to the company’s operations team, investigators have already reviewed vehicle records, driver statements and road conditions at the time of the crash.
No evidence of mechanical failure or criminal intent has been presented publicly so far.
Conflicting accounts, however, have continued to fuel debate.
In a separate report, the bus driver involved in the crash claimed the bus was carrying more passengers than officially stated and said the collision occurred moments after Jirongo’s vehicle exited a petrol station and entered the bus’s lane.
He said he attempted to avoid the crash but feared the bus could overturn.
So far, none of the passengers who were on board have spoken publicly about what they witnessed that night.The death of Cyrus Jirongo, a veteran politician and businessman, has reignited national conversations about road safety, night travel and enforcement of passenger regulations.
0 Comments