The Central Organisation for Trade Union (COTU) Secretary General, Francis Atwoli, has described the late politician Cyrus Jirongo as a man of integrity, saying he was never linked to any of Kenya’s well-known scandals.
Speaking during an interview with a local TV station on Wednesday, January 6, 2026, Atwoli recounted the moment he received the news of the tragic accident in Naivasha.
“I was sick when I heard Cyrus is no more. At that time, I was in London. I like visiting London during winter; it is when you can really see the difference between Europe and Africa,” he said.
“So I said, what can I do? I call Fred Gumo, who was the chair of the funeral committee. I tell Fred I am with you people, I will try to come before Cyrus is buried and bury Cyrus. When I came back, the first thing I did was to move to Cyrus’s place in Gigiri, sign the condolence book, talk to the family and promise them I would attend the funeral, and indeed I attended.”
Describing Jirongo’s character, Atwoli said he was a unifying figure, not bound by tribal lines.
“Cyrus was the heart of the Mulembe nation; he was the heart of Kenyans; he was not tribal. If you look into his own family, his wives come from different communities, not necessarily from Western Kenya. He loved everybody.”
Atwoli further emphasised Jirongo’s honesty and business acumen.
“We have had a lot of enquiries in Kenya, the Goldenberg scandal, among others, but Cyrus was never mentioned in any of them. He would rather come to you and borrow or go to the bank than get involved in dirty deals. He was not part of any cartel. He was a wonderful person, running his own empire of businesses. He was a fast thinker who believed in straightforward business and living a straightforward life.”
