Close allies of the late former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo have moved to counter long-standing claims that the veteran politician amassed his wealth through political connections, saying he was already a successful businessman long before joining elective politics.
Speaking during Jirongo’s requiem mass held in Nairobi on Saturday, December 27, friends and associates described him as an enterprising entrepreneur whose fortunes predated his political career, dismissing allegations that his wealth was linked to abuse of power or patronage under the late President Daniel Moi’s administration.
For years, Jirongo’s name has frequently surfaced in public debates around unexplained wealth, with claims that he leveraged political influence to build a multi-billion-shilling empire.
Some reports had even alleged that financial institutions collapsed after lending him large sums of money, which he allegedly failed to repay.
Close allies of the late former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo have moved to counter long-standing claims that the veteran politician amassed his wealth through political connections, saying he was already a successful businessman long before joining elective politics.
Speaking during Jirongo’s requiem mass held in Nairobi on Saturday, December 27, friends and associates described him as an enterprising entrepreneur whose fortunes predated his political career, dismissing allegations that his wealth was linked to abuse of power or patronage under the late President Daniel Moi’s administration.
For years, Jirongo’s name has frequently surfaced in public debates around unexplained wealth, with claims that he leveraged political influence to build a multi-billion-shilling empire. Some reports had even alleged that financial institutions collapsed after lending him large sums of money, which he allegedly failed to repay.
However, his associates described those narratives as misleading and harmful, saying they unfairly painted him as a product of political privilege rather than hard work and business acumen.
One of his longtime friends, Fred Amayo, who worked closely with Jirongo during the Youth for KANU ’92 (YK92) era, said the late politician had already established himself in real estate before his entry into national politics.
Amayo recalled that when he met Jirongo in the early 1990s, the former MP was already developing large-scale housing projects across Nairobi.
“By the time we met, Cyrus had already built Hazina Estate. He was working on Kemri Estate, and we were together on-site at Saika Estate,” Amayo said.
According to him, politics did not enrich Jirongo but instead complicated his life and reputation.
“It is getting into politics that caused him all these waves throughout his life. He was already successful before politics came into the picture,” Amayo added.
He further dismissed claims that Jirongo used his political positions to enrich himself, insisting that the former MP was known for generosity rather than accumulation of wealth through public office.
“Those spreading stories that he made his money from politics are wrong. When Cyrus was an MP, he never even spent his parliamentary salary on himself. It went directly to the people of Lugari,” Amayo said.
Amayo’s sentiments were echoed by former Nairobi Town Clerk Philip Kisia, who said Jirongo’s decision to venture into politics cost him significantly, both financially and personally.
Kisia described the late leader as a sharp businessman whose commercial success was already secured before he sought public office.
“He was an astute businessman who had made millions before politics. If you ask me, politics destroyed my brother Cyrus. He did not make money from politics; he lost instead,” Kisia said.
He thanked Amayo for publicly clarifying the issue, saying misinformation about Jirongo’s wealth had unfairly followed him for decades.
The two said Jirongo’s political involvement exposed him to public scrutiny, legal battles, and reputational damage that overshadowed his entrepreneurial achievements.
Jirongo died on December 13, 2025, following a fatal road accident along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway. His vehicle was involved in a collision with a Climax bus that was travelling from Nairobi to Busia.
The tragic death reignited public debate about his life, influence, and wealth, prompting renewed scrutiny of his past business dealings.
In the days following the crash, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) took over the probe after speculation and allegations of foul play emerged, adding to the controversy surrounding his final days.
Despite the renewed debate, his allies insisted that Jirongo’s legacy should be remembered for his business instincts, political boldness, and generosity, rather than unproven claims.
They said attempts to link his wealth to political wrongdoing ignored decades of hard work and entrepreneurship that defined his early life.
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