The driver of a Climax Coaches bus involved in a deadly early-morning road crash that claimed the life of businessman and former Lugari Member of Parliament Cyrus Jirongo has given a detailed account of the tragic incident.
The fatal accident occurred at around 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2025, along the busy Nairobi–Nakuru Highway, involving a Climax Coaches bus and a Mercedes-Benz vehicle driven by Jirongo.
Speaking after the incident, the bus driver, Tiras Kamau Githinji, identified himself and said he has worked with Climax Coaches for eight years.
“Mimi naitwa Tiras Kamau Githinji, driver wa Climax Coaches. Nimefanyia kampuni miaka nane,” he said.
According to Githinji, he was driving from Nairobi to Busia when the crash happened. He claimed that Jirongo’s vehicle entered the highway from a petrol station without giving way, leading to a head-on collision.
“Ile Mercedes ilikuwa inatoka kwa petrol station. Mimi natoka Nairobi naenda Busia. Mercedes hakugive way wakati aliingia kwa barabara,” he explained.
The driver further stated that traffic congestion on the highway may have influenced the late former MP’s decision to join the road.
“Aliona magari zimeweka jam, akaamua kuingia upande yangu. Tukakutana kichwa na kichwa,” Githinji said.
At the time of the accident, the Climax Coaches bus was reportedly carrying 65 passengers, a fact that forced Githinji to make a split-second decision to prevent a larger tragedy.
“Nilijaribu kuokoa yeye, nikaskia gari yangu inaweza enda chini. Ndiyo nikakanyaga breki, lakini akakuja kama ameniingia,” he recounted.
The impact was fatal for Jirongo, who was alone in his vehicle and died on the spot. None of the bus passengers were reported to have lost their lives, though several sustained injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals.
Githinji said he only learned the identity of the victim after police officers arrived at the scene.
“Baadaye maaskari walipokuja ndipo niliskia ni Mheshimiwa Cyrus Jirongo,” he said.
Police have since launched investigations into the crash as Kenyans continue to mourn the death of Jirongo, a prominent businessman and influential political figure whose life was cut short in the tragic accident.
The incident has once again raised concerns over road safety on the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway, especially during late-night and early-morning hours when visibility is low and traffic behavior can be unpredictable.
