Cyrus Jirongo

Cyrus Shakhalaga Khwa Jirongo (21 March 1961 – 13 December 2025) was a Kenyan politician and past government Minister for Rural Development from 12 March 2002 to 27 December 2002 in the Daniel Moi administration. He had previously served as Member of Parliament for Lugari Constituency between 1997 and 2002 and between 2007 and 2013.

Honourable Cyrus Shakhalaga Khwa Jirongo
Minister for Rural Development
In office 12 March 2002 – 27 December 2002
President	Daniel arap Moi
Member of Parliament from Lugari Constituency
In office 27 December 2007 – 4 March 2013
Preceded by	Enoch Kibunguchy
Succeeded by	Ayub Savula
Member of Parliament from Lugari Constituency
In office 29 December 1997 – 27 December 2002
Preceded by	Apili Waomba
Succeeded by	Enoch Kibunguchy
Personal details
Born	(1961-03-21)21 March 1961 Colony and Protectorate of Kenya
Died	13 December 2025(2025-12-13) (aged 64) Naivasha, Kenya
Party	United Democratic Party (Kenya)
Education	University of Cambridge[1][2] Egerton University[3][2] Mang'u High School
Occupation	Politician

Between 1978 and 1981 he went to Mang'u High School.^[4]He became the chairman of AFC Leopards football club in 1991.^[5]

Jirongo was leader of the United Democratic Party.

Career

Political career

YK 92

In 1992 he led the Youth for Kanu '92 (YK '92) movement supporting the then ruling KANU party ahead of the first multiparty elections in Kenya.^[6]

1997–2001: Parliamentary career

Jirongo became an MP at the 1997 elections, when he won the Lugari Constituency seat. Two years later he fell out with KANU and was associated with the unregistered United Democratic Movement party.^[7] At the elections he represented KANU but was defeated by Enoch Kibunguchy of NARC.^[8]

Minister For Rural Development

Ahead of the 2002 elections, he was appointed the Rural Development Minister by President Daniel arap Moi.^[9]

2007–2012: Parliamentary return

Jirongo formed a new political party known as Kenya African Democratic Development Union (KADDU) and successfully reclaimed the Lugari Constituency seat at the 2007 elections. The elections were followed by a political crisis in Kenya which was resolved by a broad coalition government. KADDU was the only parliamentary party excluded from the government and Jirongo was the sole MP for the party.^[10] In his bid to become Kenya's fourth president, he had been identified with the URP and more recently New FORD-Kenya, before formally joining the Federal Party of Kenya. ^[11][12][13]

2013 Presidential run

Jirongo declared an interest in running for the Kenya Presidential seat in the 2013 Kenyan Presidential election. He eventually opted to run for the Kakamega County Senate seat and support the right Hon. Raila Odinga's bid for the presidency. He lost the bid to Dr. Bonny Khalwale.^[14]

2017 general elections

In the 2017 Kenyan general elections Jirongo vied for the presidency under the United Democratic Party. He garnered approximately 11,000 votes which were 0.07% of the total votes in the elections.^[15]

2022 general elections

The United Democratic Party contested the 2022 Kenyan general election as part of Azimio La Umoja, and elected two MPs. Jirongo congratulated William Ruto on his victory.^[16]

Personal life and death

Jirongo was polygamous and had over 10 active wives. Notably, there are four widely recognized ones. The first one was a Kalenjin, Joan Chemutai Kimeto (divorced); the second was an Agikuyu, Christine Nyokabi Kimani; third was a Kamba, Anne Kanini; and the fourth was a Maasai, Anne Lanoi Pertet.^[17]

Jirongo died in a traffic collision in Naivasha, Kenya, on 13 December 2025, at the age of 64.^[18]