The late former Lugari Member of Parliament, Cyrus Jirongo, was the leader of Youth for KANU ’92 (YK’92), which campaigned for Daniel arap Moi’s re-election during the early 1990s multiparty era.
Although Jirongo was one of the most powerful young figures within Moi’s circles, he once had a heated argument with the President at State House.
While narrating to Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna on Thee Alfa House Podcast, Jirongo said the incident occurred during a meeting at State House, where he presented a document to then President Moi.
According to the late former Cabinet Minister, he opted to meet Moi after rumours of toxic waste being dumped in North Eastern Kenya began to spread.
Jirongo explained that he had a document proving where the waste was being dumped, prompting him to seek a meeting with the President to report the issue.
“There were rumours that toxic waste was being dumped in North Eastern Kenya, and people knew I had the courage to confront the leadership of the time, including President Moi. A friend of mine gave me a document proving where the toxic waste was dumped. I immediately picked up the phone and called Mzee Moi, requesting a meeting with him,” Jirongo Said
Jirongo was accompanied by a few friends when he went to State House to meet President Moi with the document.
However, according to the late Cyrus Jirongo, he was surprised by Moi’s reaction after handing over the document. Instead of appearing excited, the then Head of State asked Jirongo where he had obtained the document.
Jirongo told Moi that he himself had instructed them never to reveal their sources and that the President had the power and the system to find out the truth.
“When I passed the document to President Moi, I expected him to be very excited. The reaction I got was very different. He asked me, ‘Where did you find this document?’ I then told him that he was the one who had instructed us never to reveal the source of our information. I told him that he had the power and the system to investigate and find out whether it was true or not,” Jirongo added.
While continuing his narration, Jirongo said that Moi became furious and told him he would not leave State House until he revealed who had given him the document.
The argument escalated to the point that Moi “hit the roof,” prompting his security team to repeatedly knock on the door to ensure everything was alright. They reportedly feared that Jirongo had started a fight with the President and kept checking from time to time.
“He said no! That I would not leave State House until I revealed where I got the document. The argument went on, and it was so heated that the President’s security started knocking on the door, thinking I was a mad man fighting the President. They kept opening the door to check what was happening because Moi had hit the roof, and I didn’t know what crime I had committed. I had just gone to tell him that the toxic waste would hurt Kenyans,” the late Lugari MP narrated.
Cyrus Jirongo said that Moi warned him that if he heard about the document anywhere else, he would deal with him.
Although Jirongo believed he was acting in the nation’s best interest, it seemed he had only reported what President Moi was already aware of.
“He then warned me that if he heard about the document anywhere else, he would deal with me thoroughly. I thought I was doing good for the country, yet I was only reporting what he was already aware of,” Cyrus Jirongo Said
The following day, he was at the DCI offices, where he was questioned about the issue, but he persisted in refusing to reveal what he had discussed with the President.
