Naivasha – A security guard who gave an eyewitness account of the fatal road accident that claimed the life of former Lugari Member of Parliament Cyrus Jirongo has been dismissed from his job, a move that has sparked outrage from labour unions and renewed calls for a comprehensive investigation into the crash.
Ephraim Cheptek, who was on duty at Eagol Petrol Station along the busy Nairobi–Nakuru Highway, was among the first witnesses at the scene on the morning of Saturday, December 13, when Jirongo’s Mercedes-Benz was involved in a head-on collision with a Climax Coaches bus. In media interviews, Cheptek shared details of what he saw in the moments leading up to the crash.
However, days after speaking out, Cheptek was reportedly fired by his employer, a decision that the Private Security Workers Union has strongly condemned. The union described the termination as unfair and punitive, arguing that the guard was only performing his professional duties.
Union Secretary General Isaac Andabwa said Cheptek’s role required him to assist investigators and provide truthful information.
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“You cannot fire someone because he was interviewed by the media regarding Jirongo’s death, yet he was on official duty. Giving information to investigators is part of his mandatory responsibility as a private security officer,” Andabwa stated.
He warned that failure to reinstate the guard would prompt legal action. “As the representative of security guards in Kenya and a board member of COTU, I want to issue a serious warning to the employer.
If Cheptek is not reinstated immediately, we will move to court over unfair termination and intimidation,” he added.
Cheptek’s account has attracted public attention because it contradicted the version given by the Climax Coaches bus driver.
While the driver claimed that Jirongo was overlapping lanes, the guard said the road was clear and that the former MP had driven into the petrol station from the Nairobi direction moments before the crash.
According to Cheptek, Jirongo appeared to slow down as if to refuel but instead drove through the station and rejoined the highway, accelerating before colliding head-on with the oncoming bus. Jirongo died on the spot.
The conflicting narratives have reignited debate among Kenyans, with many calling for investigators to thoroughly review CCTV footage, witness statements, and vehicle data to establish what really happened.
In a related statement, Climax Coaches said the bus involved was travelling from Nairobi to Busia with 51 passengers on board, although only 46 were listed in the manifest.
The company maintained that it has fully cooperated with police, the NTSA, and the DCI, insisting the incident was a normal road accident.
As pressure mounts, Cheptek’s dismissal has become a focal point in the wider quest for truth and accountability surrounding Cyrus Jirongo’s death.
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