The Jirongo Mystery: Why Fear the Tiriki Torch?

The burial of former Lugari member of parliament Cyrus Jirongo, scheduled for Tuesday, 30 December 2025, in Lumakanda, Kakamega County, has sparked tension between cultural tradition and modern preferences amid questions over his death.

Circumstances of death

Jirongo, 64, died in the early hours of 13 December 2025 in a head-on collision on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway at Karai, Naivasha. Police reports state he was driving alone in his Mercedes-Benz when his vehicle collided with a Climax bus, causing fatal blunt force trauma confirmed by autopsy.

Investigations continue, with CCTV footage from a nearby petrol station showing his movements before the crash, though no conclusive evidence of foul play has emerged.

Burial planning and clash

A national burial committee co-chaired by former Westlands member of parliament Fred Gumo has planned the funeral, with the body moving from Nairobi to Kitale and then Lumakanda.

Tensions arose on 28 December 2025 when Tiriki elders clashed with the committee over traditional entry rituals, which Gumo rejected as outdated and disruptive to the family.

Push for Tiriki customs

Leaders including Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya and Bungoma Governor aspirant Zacharia Baraza have called for full Tiriki customs. These include placing a lit charcoal “Eternal Torch” and traditional weapons like a panga in the casket — rites reserved for suspected foul-play deaths.

In Tiriki belief, the torch illuminates those responsible, denying them peace until justice; its extinguishing foreshadows the guilty’s fate.

Voices of suspicion

Natembeya argues that if Jirongo died innocently, the rite poses no harm, but resistance signals deep suspicion. Former cabinet secretary Moses Kuria offered to provide the torch, urging a thorough probe.

Resistance to rituals

Gumo and committee members oppose the rites as archaic and inconsistent with Jirongo public stature. The standoff reflects unease in Western Kenya over the official accident narrative.

Cultural clash persists

As mourners gather, the debate highlights respect for ancestral justice versus restraint and legal processes. With burial imminent, the question remains — if the death was accidental, why resist a symbol?