The late former Lugari Member of Parliament, Cyrus Jirongo, was once one of the most influential political power brokers in Kenya. Additionally, Jirongo was well known to have amassed massive wealth, especially through his close ties with the second President of Kenya, Mzee Daniel Arap Moi.
However, years after his rise to riches, behind the scenes, Jirongo’s empire was crumbling, leading to bankruptcy and legal battles with financial institutions.
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One of the most defining moments of the late former Cabinet Minister came when the government sold part of his property to recover unpaid loans.
As Kenyans reflect on Cyrus Jirongo’s life and legacy, in this segment, Times Digital Kenya explores how financial troubles overtook a man who was once a business mogul and a figure of great influence in Kenya’s political scene.
Mounting debts and legal battles
Despite his vast wealth and political influence, Jirongo started to struggle financially after staying out of power for several years.
For instance, Jirongo served as Member of Parliament for Lugari Constituency between 1997 and 2002, and again from 2007 to 2013, as well as a Cabinet Minister in Moi’s government from 12 March 2002 to 27 December 2002.
As soon as he stepped out of Parliament, Jirongo faced tough financial challenges.
In 2017, just four years after leaving the National Assembly, the government sold Jirongo’s land following his declaration of bankruptcy.
Through the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), the state sold his 103-acre farm to recover part of the loans, amounting to Sh495 million, owed to Dubai Bank.
Initially, the land, located in Uasin Gishu County, was auctioned for Sh70 million but failed to attract a buyer. The government was then forced to sell the land, registered to Kuza and Allied Ltd., a company owned by Mr. Jirongo, for Sh53 million.
Cyrus Jirongo also faced multiple legal disputes, including a conflict with City Hall over Mukuru kwa Reuben land and the Ruai land dispute, where the government repossessed the land in 2020 and gazetted it as protected public land, among other legal battles.
