Philip Kisia, a former Nairobi Town Clerk and close relative to the late veteran politician Cyrus Jirongo, has penned a deeply emotional tribute recalling more than three decades of friendship, mentorship and shared dreams with the fallen leader.
In a heartfelt post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Kisia described writing the tribute as one of the most difficult tasks he has ever undertaken, saying the pain of losing Jirongo was compounded by the fact that they had plans to meet on the very day he died.
“Penning down over three decades of friendship in a tribute has been one of my toughest tasks, but I’ll honor my friend’s memory the best way I can,” Kisia wrote.
According to Kisia, his journey with Jirongo, fondly referred to as CJ, began in 1992 through a family connection that would later shape both their personal and professional lives.
“Our journey began in 1992 when my maternal aunt, Jane Manasseh, introduced us. What started as a young man’s business pursuit, one we often joked about later in life, blossomed into a cherished lifelong friendship and mentorship,” he said.
Kisia portrayed Jirongo as a man who consistently defied expectations, a trait that made his sudden death even harder to accept.
“CJ always defied the odds! This has made his passing disarmingly dreadful, especially since we had planned lunch that same day,” he revealed.
The former town clerk said he has been haunted by thoughts of the conversations that never happened.
“I imagine the grand plans we would have discussed; but now, my fellow dreamer is gone. He had an uncanny ability to dream big and swing for the fences in every endeavor,” Kisia wrote.
Describing Jirongo as a commanding presence wherever he went, Kisia said the late former Lugari MP was impossible to ignore.
“A larger-than-life character, CJ filled rooms with his laugh and presence. Brilliant, generous, and happy-go-lucky, he loved family and friends, deeply and fiercely,” he noted.
Beyond the public image of a charismatic politician and businessman, Kisia said Jirongo was a teacher whose lessons would endure long after his death.
“I’ll miss his wisdom and laughter, but his lessons on hard work and resilience endure,” he added.
Kisia concluded his tribute with a message of farewell that resonated with many Kenyans who followed Jirongo’s long and eventful public life.
“Rest in peace, CJ. Your legacy lives on in our hearts and Kenya’s history,” he wrote, punctuating the message with the Kenyan flag and a dove emoji.
