Tension remains high in Lumakanda as the family of the late businessman and politician Cyrus Jirongo openly rejected the final police report into his death, hours after it was presented to them. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) maintains that Jirongo died in a road accident along the Karai corridor. The family is not convinced.
Relatives say the report was delivered quietly and without a full briefing, despite weeks of public interest and unanswered questions. Family spokespersons insist critical details were either omitted or insufficiently explained, especially regarding the moments before the crash.
The disagreement comes barely a day after the burial, where traditional Tiriki rites were performed in the presence of elders. According to family insiders, those rituals marked the beginning of a 40-day cultural period during which truth is traditionally expected to surface. Elders present at the ceremony warned against rushing closure while questions remain unresolved.
At the centre of the dispute is a missing segment of digital evidence. The family claims the police report makes no reference to data allegedly retrieved from the vehicle’s dashboard system. They also question why certain witness statements were summarised rather than recorded in full.
Security sources in Kakamega County confirmed that detectives briefly returned to Lumakanda earlier today to collect additional statements, although officials declined to comment on whether the case has been reopened.
Family members say they are not accusing anyone directly but want an independent review of the findings. They argue that closing the file so soon risks eroding public confidence, especially given Jirongo’s national profile and political history.
Local leaders attending a closed-door family meeting urged calm but supported the call for transparency. “Closure only comes with clarity,” one leader said.
For now, the burial may be over, but the matter surrounding Jirongo’s final hours remains unresolved. As the traditional 40-day period begins, the family says it will continue engaging authorities until every outstanding question is addressed.
By Nation