Cyrus Jirongo
Cyrus Shakhalaga Khwa Jirongo, popularly Cyrus Jirongo, is a politician and a former Member of Parliament in Kenya. Between 1978 and 1981 he went to Mang'u High School.[1] He became the chairman of AFC Leopards football club in 1991.[2]
He is leader of the United Democratic Party.
Political career edit
YK 92 edit
In 1992 he led the Youth for Kanu '92 (YK '92) movement supporting the then ruling KANU party ahead of the first multiparty elections in Kenya.[3]
1997-2001 Parliamentary Career edit
He became an MP at the 1997 elections, when he won the Lugari Constituency seat. Two years later he fell out with KANU and was associated with the unregistered United Democratic Movement party.[4] Nevertheless, ahead of the 2002 elections, he was appointed the Rural Development Minister.[5] At the elections he represented KANU but was defeated by Enoch Kibunguchy of NARC.[6]
2007-2012 Parliamentary Return edit
He formed a new political party known as Kenya African Democratic Development Union (KADDU) and successfully reclaimed the Lugari Constituency seat at the 2007 elections. The elections were followed by political crisis in Kenya which was resolved by a broad coalition government. KADDU is the only parliamentary party not taking part in the government and Jirongo is the sole MP for the party.[7] In his bid to become Kenya's fourth president, he had been identified with the URP and more recently New FORD-Kenya, before formally joining the Federal Party of Kenya [8][9][10]
2013 Presidential Run edit
Jirongo declared an interest in running for the Kenya Presidential seat in the 2013 Kenyan Presidential election. He eventually opted to run for the Kakamega County Senate seat and support the right Hon. Raila Odinga's bid for the presidency. He lost the bid to Dr. Bonny Khalwale.[11]
2017 general elections edit
In the 2017 Kenyan general elections Jirongo vied for the presidency under the United Democratic Party. He garnered approximately 11,000 votes which were 0.07% of the total votes in the elections.[12]
2022 general elections edit
The United Democratic Party contested the 2022 Kenyan general election as part of Azimio La Umoja, and elected two MPs. Jirongo congratulated William Ruto on his victory.[13]
Personal life edit
He is polygamous and has four active wives, the first one is a Kalenjin, Joan Chemutai Kimeto (Divorced), second is an Agikuyu, Christine Nyokabi Kimani, third is a Kamba, Anne Kanini and the fourth is a Maasai, Anne Lanoi Pertet.[14]
References edit
- ^ Daily Nation, December 11, 2003: Guess who's top of the class!
- ^ Kenyapage.net: Election 2007 --> Sports Enthusiasts are also voters 2008-09-07 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Daily Nation, November 18, 2002: Lobby groups resurface to cash in on election euphoria
- ^ Daily Nation March 11, 1999: Jirongo party furious at Moi 'interference'
- ^ Daily Nation, March 12, 2002: An uphill task for Jirongo
- ^ Information go.ke: Kenyan parliamentary elections 2002 results - Lugari Constituency[permanent dead link]
- ^ The Standard, April 27, 2008: Dilemma as House braces for a one-man Opposition[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Jirongo to ditch URP for new party | the Star". Archived from the original on 2013-02-18. Retrieved 2012-07-23. Jirongo to ditch URP for new party
- ^ Jirongo tipped to join New Ford-Kenya Party http://allafrica.com/stories/201207050073.html
- ^ Jirongo launches presidential bid, pledges corruption fight http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2012/09/jirongo-launches-presidential-bid-pledges-corruption-fight/
- ^ "irongo joins Cord, to contest Kakamega Senate . Jirongo ran for presidency for the second time on a UDP ticket and clinched over 10,000 votes. seat". Daily Nation. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 2017-08-08. Retrieved 2017-08-09.
- ^ Otenyo, Hilton (18 August 2022). "Azimio's Jirongo congratulates President-elect Ruto". The Star. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
- ^ Wesangula, Daniel (9 January 2010). "Polygamy: Kenyans speak out". Daily Nation. Nairobi. Retrieved 24 October 2017.