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Cyrus Jirongo: YK92 Member That Sought To Become President

Cyrus Shakhalaga Khwa Jirongo, popularly known as Cyrus Jirongo, is a politician and a former Member of Parliament.

Jirongo’s rise in politics is attributed to the infamous YK 92 that prolonged KANU’s reign after the introduction of multi-partism.

Political Career

YK 92

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.
Parliamentary Career
Jirongo became an MP during 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. Nevertheless, ahead of the 2002 elections, he was appointed the Rural Development Minister. At the elections he represented KANU but was defeated by Enoch Kibunguchy of NARC.
2007-2012 Return to Parliament

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. 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.

2013 Presidential Run

Jirongo declared an interest in running for the President in 2013 but he eventually opted to vie for the Kakamega Senate seat and back Raila Odinga’s presidential bid.

Unfortunately, he lost the bid to now Kakamega senator Boni Khalwale.

2017 Presidential Run

Again, in 2017, Jirongo vied for the presidency under UDP (United Democratic party).

He garnered approximately 11,000 votes which were 0.07% of the total votes in the elections.

Personal Life

The former Lugari MP is polygamous and has four wives.

The first wife is Joan Chemutai Kimeto (Divorced), second is Christine Nyokabi Kimani, third is Anne Kanini and the fourth is Anne Lanoi Pertet

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