By John Mutiso
A postmortem report has confirmed that the late Cabinet Minister Cyrus Jirongo died from severe chest crush injuries sustained in a road accident in Naivasha last week.
Pathologists determined that the fatal injuries resulted from blunt force trauma.
Government pathologist Johansen Oduor, together with pathologists appointed by the family, announced the findings on Wednesday, December 17, while briefing the media at Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi, where the examination was conducted.
The team revealed that Jirongo suffered extensive trauma to the chest, including a perforated heart, as well as injuries to the abdomen. These injuries were established as the primary cause of death.
The report indicated that the deceased sustained multiple fractures, including two to the right hand and fractures affecting both lower limbs.
Further examination revealed several broken ribs, a perforated heart, severe chest trauma, and internal bleeding into the chest cavity, with the crush injuries extending into the abdominal area.
“There were two fractures in the right hand, as well as fractures on both limbs. The chest sustained multiple rib fractures, perforation of the heart, extensive chest injuries, bleeding in the chest cavity, and crush injuries extending into the abdomen,” the report read in part.
According to the family doctor, Martin Wanyoike, the injuries that the politician sustained would not allow him to survive the crash.
“As a heart doctor, I witnessed a very severe injury to the heart, and those injuries are not compatible with the heart. We are sincerely sorry to the family,” Wanyoike said.
On Tuesday, the DCI announced that it had obtained CCTV footage from the petrol station near where the incident occurred. Additionally, the driver of the Climax Company Ltd bus involved in the incident has been re-summoned for further police action.
The footage shows Jirongo driving into the petrol station from the Nairobi direction at 2:18:40am, though not to refuel. At 2:19:10am, he stopped at the station exit, and at 2:19:19am, he made a right turn to head back towards Nairobi. At 2:19:25am, the CCTV captured a PSV bus ramming into his vehicle.
The collision occurred at about 2:19am on December 13 and resulted in a head-on impact that pushed Jirongo’s vehicle approximately 25 metres from the point of impact, while the bus came to a stop about 50 metres away.
Detectives said that they are also examining Jirongo’s movements before the crash, including recording statements from individuals he interacted with earlier that night, notably those present at a meeting at Karen Oasis Bar and Restaurant in Nairobi.
