Bus driver recounts fatal crash that killed Cyrus Jirongo on Nakuru–Naivasha Highway
The bus driver, Kamau Githinji, said he was on a scheduled trip from Nairobi to Busia, carrying 65 passengers, when the crash occurred shortly after dawn.
Details have emerged about the road crash that killed former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, with the driver of a Climax Coach bus involved in the accident describing how events unfolded in the early morning hours and why he believes the collision could not be avoided.
The accident occurred on Saturday, December 13, 2025, along the Nakuru–Naivasha Highway.
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The bus driver, Kamau Githinji, said he was on a scheduled trip from Nairobi to Busia, carrying 65 passengers, when the crash occurred shortly after dawn.
“I was coming from Nairobi heading to Busia,” Githinji said. “When an accident occurred between my bus and a Mercedes-Benz.”
Githinji, who has worked with Climax Coach for eight years, said the Mercedes-Benz joined the highway from a petrol station without yielding to oncoming traffic.
He explained that the car slowed down after the driver noticed congestion on his side of the road, then suddenly changed direction.
“The Mercedes was exiting a petrol station while I was driving from Nairobi to Busia. The Mercedes did not give way,” he said.
According to Githinji, the move placed the two vehicles directly in line, creating a situation where a head-on collision became unavoidable within seconds.
“He entered the road and saw that on his side there was a traffic jam, so he decided to come to where I was, and we collided head-on,” he said.
He said the bus was heavily occupied, while the Mercedes-Benz had only the driver inside, a reality that influenced how he reacted in the final moment.
“The car had only one person, the driver, while my bus had 65 passengers.”
Githinji said he weighed his options quickly, including steering away, but feared that turning sharply could cause the bus to roll and lead to greater loss of life.
“When I tried to avoid the crash, I felt my bus could go off the road, so I stayed in my lane, and he came straight at me,” he said.
Following the crash, passengers were left shaken as rescue teams moved in to secure the area and assist those affected.
Githinji said he did not immediately know who was driving the Mercedes-Benz and only found out later when officers arrived at the scene.
“I didn’t know the Mercedes-Benz driver was Cyrus Jirongo until the police came,” he said.
He expressed sympathy with the family of the late politician, saying, “My condolences”.
Police said Jirongo suffered serious head injuries and died on the spot. News of his death spread quickly, drawing reactions from political leaders, trade union figures and members of the public.
Authorities say investigations into the crash are continuing, as road safety remains a growing concern on busy highways across the country.
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