The late former Lugari Member of Parliament, Cyrus Shakhalaga Khwa Jirongo, was laid to rest on Tuesday, with family, friends, and political allies gathering to pay their respects.
The funeral, held at Lumakanda Primary School and his residence, drew hundreds of mourners, including his 22 children and four widely recognized spouses.
Mourners gathered at his Lumakanda home in Kakamega County, including dignitaries and former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who received cheers upon arrival, a sign of respect across political lines.
Jirongo’s widely recognised spouses, Christine Nyokabi Kimani, Anne Kanini, Anne Lanoi Pertet, and Joan Chemutai Kimeto, the latter of whom he later divorced, delivered emotional tributes highlighting his equitable treatment of them all.
During the service, one of his wives, Anne Lanoi, highlighted Jirongo’s fairness and generosity toward his family in their 53-year journey together.
Dressed in traditional mourning attire with a black hat, short veil, and lace dress, she captivated the crowd with memories that painted a man both powerful and deeply human.
“My name is Anne Lanoi,” she began, her voice steady but tinged with emotion.
“I met Cyrus 35 years ago. I was 21, he was 29. What attracted me most to him was his big heart. I could not stop just wanting to be next to him. He was so kind, generous, compassionate,” Lanoi said.
She painted a vivid portrait of a man whose generosity sometimes left him with “nothing,” but never deterred his instinct to give.
“He never wanted to see anyone in trouble or difficulty. He would give and give, and then he had nothing, sometimes to the detriment of his family, but we understood him.”
Jirongo’s devotion extended to his children and extended family.
“To his children, he was their protector. If he wanted to cross his path, just do something for his children. And to his siblings, he looked at them like his children. He took over their responsibilities, educated their children, and even took some abroad. He loved them dearly, and I know they’re treasured.”
The home the couple shared was often filled with political friends, business partners, and community members.
“Every lunchtime, my house was full. It reached a point some people would confuse it for a restaurant. But it wasn’t. People came because Cyrus was generous. That was the man he was. He would tell everybody, ‘Tuende nyumbani, tukule ugali,’ and so many of them can attest to that.”
Anne admitted that the loss is deeply personal.
“I will miss Cyrus dearly. He picked my phone at the first ring. Today, I don’t know who I’ll call. And today I know he’s never coming back. But I look up to God and hope everything will be okay. It’s a heavy day for me, for the family, but we will carry on. He loved us, and his legacy lives in us.”
She extended heartfelt thanks to friends and family who supported her in the wake of Cyrus’s passing.
“A special thank you to the three brothers former Senator George Khaniri, Philip Kisia, and Fred,who woke up at 3 a.m. and followed me to Naivasha alongside their spouses when I was told Cyrus had an accident. God bless you.”
Lanoi also thanked the broader community.
“We thank the president and the government. We thank everybody in a big way, because without you, we would not have made it this far. Thank you for your messages, calls, financial and moral support.”
Cyrus Jirongo’s life, as recalled by Anne Lanoi, was one of unyielding generosity, love, and loyalty, a legacy that will be remembered by family, friends, and the countless lives he touched.
The funeral blended tradition with political legacy, featuring Abaluhya cultural rituals, dances, dirges, and ceremonies, interspersed with reflections on Jirongo’s political journey, from YK’92 activism to wealth-building ventures and sports patronage, particularly of AFC Leopards.
Rainy skies mirrored the somber mood, yet anecdotes of his generosity, from supporting rural communities to welcoming friends and political allies into his home, brought laughter and warmth.
Jirongo’s wife Lanoi concluded her tribute with emotion: “He picked my phone at the first ring. Today, I don’t know who I’ll call. He’s never coming back. But his legacy lives in us, and we will carry on.”
Jirongo’s flag-draped casket was received with solemn emotion at Lumakanda Primary School and his residence.
His 22 children and extended family attended, with requiem masses held earlier at CITAM Valley Road and in Kitale.
