A security guard who witnessed the fatal crash that killed former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo has been fired after sharing his account with the media.
Ephraim Cheptek was on duty at a petrol station along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway in Naivasha when Jirongo’s Mercedes-Benz collided head-on with a Climax Coach bus in the early hours of December.
After speaking publicly about what he saw, his employer dismissed him.
What did Cheptoek Say on the Cyrus Jirongo Crash?
Cheptek’s account drew attention because it directly contradicted the version given by the bus driver involved in the crash.
The bus driver claimed that Cyrus Jirongo was overtaking in the face of heavy traffic when the collision happened. He said there was no space to avoid the crash, forcing him to stop and brace for impact.
Cheptek, however, told a different story.
He said the accident happened at around 3am and that the road was calm and clear at the time. According to him, there was no traffic congestion and no vehicle trailing Jirongo’s car before the crash.
Cheptek explained that Jirongo briefly drove into the petrol station as if he intended to refuel. He slowed down, entered the station, then suddenly drove away without fuelling and rejoined the highway. Moments later, the crash occurred right in front of the station.
He described Jirongo’s actions as unusual and insisted he clearly saw what happened because he was the only person awake at the scene.
Cheptek also disputed claims that traffic built up before the accident. He said vehicles only began to pile up after the crash had already occurred.
His statements fueled fresh questions about the circumstances surrounding Jirongo’s death and renewed calls for a thorough investigation.
The Private Security Workers Union has condemned the decision, calling it unfair and unlawful. The union argues that Cheptek was simply doing his job by cooperating with investigators and sharing information about an incident he witnessed while on duty.
According to the union’s secretary general, Isaac Andabwa, Cheptek should not be punished for giving an eyewitness account. He said providing information to authorities is part of a security guard’s professional responsibility. Andabwa warned that the employer risks legal action if Cheptek is not reinstated.
By Vivian K.