The driver of a passenger bus involved in a deadly head-on collision that claimed the life of former Lugari Member of Parliament Cyrus Jirongo has spoken out, giving details of what he says led to the tragic accident along the Nairobi–Nakuru hihwa
The crash occurred early Saturday morning and involved a 65-seater bus and a Mercedes-Benz driven by Jirongo. The former lawmaker died on the spot after the two vehicles collided head-on on the busy single-carriage highway.
Speaking shortly after the incident, the 52-year-old bus driver said the accident happened when Jirongo’s car moved into the oncoming lane while attempting to overtake vehicles that were stuck in traffic.
According to the driver, he was driving from Nairobi to Busia when he noticed a Mercedes joining the highway from a petrol station. At the same time, traffic had built up on one side of the road, creating congestion.
The driver explained that Jirongo appeared to be trying to bypass the traffic jam by overlapping into the opposite lane, which was already in use by vehicles heading towards Nakuru.
“I saw the Mercedes come from the petrol station and enter the road,” the driver said. “There were vehicles stuck on his side, and he decided to use my lane to overtake.”
The bus driver said the Mercedes was approaching fast and that there was little time or space to take evasive action. He noted that swerving off the road could have caused the bus to roll over, putting the lives of dozens of passengers at risk.
“I had passengers on board, and trying to avoid him could have caused a worse accident,” he said. “I stopped and braced for the impact.”
The bus was carrying 65 passengers at the time of the crash. None of the passengers was reported dead, though some sustained injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The driver said he only learned the identity of the person in the Mercedes after police officers arrived at the scene.
“When the police came, they told me the person involved was Honourable Jirongo,” he said, adding that Jirongo was alone in the vehicle at the time of the crash.
Photos and videos circulating on social media showed extensive damage to both vehicles, particularly the Mercedes, which had a shattered windscreen, crushed front section, and deflated tyres.
Police officers cordoned off the area for several hours as they carried out investigations and cleared the wreckage, causing traffic disruption along the highway.
Authorities have launched investigations into the crash, with preliminary findings pointing to dangerous overtaking on a single-carriage road as a possible cause. Police are expected to release a full report after completing their inquiries.
Jirongo, 64, was a seasoned politician and businessman. He served as Member of Parliament for Lugari Constituency between 1997 and 2002, and later between 2007 and 2013.
He also briefly served as Minister for Rural Development during the final year of former President Daniel arap Moi’s administration in 2002.
Tributes continued to pour in from political leaders, business associates, and members of the public, many of whom described him as bold, outspoken, and influential in Kenyan politics.
The accident has once again raised concerns about road safety along the Nairobi–Nakuru highway, which has been the scene of numerous fatal crashes linked to speeding, overlapping, and traffic congestion.
Road safety advocates have renewed calls for motorists to exercise caution, especially on busy highways with limited overtaking space.
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