Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has reversed his earlier defence of the bus driver involved in the fatal crash that killed former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo. Initially, Sonko praised the driver, Tirus Kamau Githinji, for making a split-second decision that protected 65 passengers. He had vowed to bail him out immediately if arrested.
Sonko now says he has shifted his support to the Jirongo family after receiving new details about the accident. He called for all passengers aboard the bus to come forward. The bus company reportedly has records of those who travelled, including contact details, which could reveal the true sequence of events.
The driver had claimed Jirongo’s car emerged from a petrol station and tried to overtake due to heavy traffic. He insisted the accident was unavoidable, stating that swerving could have overturned the bus and endangered the passengers. Sonko initially agreed, saying the driver acted to save lives and that Jirongo did not yield.
New evidence, however, has cast doubt on that account. Ephraim Cheptek, a petrol station security guard who witnessed the crash, says Jirongo drove in an unusual manner into the station but did not refuel. He contradicts claims of traffic congestion, saying the highway was calm before the accident and that the traffic jam formed only after the collision.
Cheptek insists he was the only person awake at the time and observed the events clearly. He noted that no vehicles were behind Jirongo and that the way he approached the station appeared unusual. These details suggest the crash circumstances differ from the driver’s initial report.
Sonko emphasized that justice must prevail and urged for the collection of accurate testimony. He called for the petrol station to provide CCTV footage showing Jirongo’s movements before the crash. He warned against foul play and affirmed that he now supports the family in uncovering the truth about what happened that early morning.
The revelations have raised serious questions about the accident and the choices made by the bus driver. Authorities may now review the case more closely, considering eyewitness testimony and potential new evidence that challenges the original narrative.
By Nairobinews