Cyrus Jirongo
{{Short description|Former Member of Kenyan Parliament}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Cyrus Shakhalaga Khwa Jirongo
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| office1 = Minister for Rural Development
| president1 = Daniel arap Moi
| term_start1 = 12 March 2002
| term_end1 = 27 December 2002
| office2 = Member of Parliament from Lugari Constituency
| term_start2 = 27 December 2007
| term_end2 = 4 March 2013
| predecessor2 = Enoch Kibunguchy
| successor2 = Ayub Savula
| office3 = Member of Parliament from Lugari Constituency
| term_start3 = 29 December 1997
| term_end3 = 27 December 2002
| predecessor3 = Apili Waomba
| successor3 = Enoch Kibunguchy
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|03|21| df=yes}}
| birth_place = Kenya Colony
| death_date =
| children =
| death_place =
| education = Mang'u High School
| occupation = Politician
| nationality = Kenyan
| known_for =
| honorific_prefix = Honorable
| party = United Democratic Party (Kenya)
}}
Cyrus Shakhalaga Khwa Jirongo, popularly Cyrus Jirongo, is a politician and a former Minister for Rural Development between 12 March 2002 to 27 December 2002 in the Moi administration. He previously served as former Member of Parliament for Lugari Constituency between 1997 and 2002 and between 2007 and 2013.
Between 1978 and 1981 he went to Mang'u High School.Daily Nation, December 11, 2003: [http://www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/11122003/News/Special%20Report66787.html Guess who's top of the class!] He became the chairman of AFC Leopards football club in 1991.Kenyapage.net: [http://www.kenyapage.net/sports/comments/govt.html Election 2007 --> Sports Enthusiasts are also voters] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907154054/http://www.kenyapage.net/sports/comments/govt.html |date=2008-09-07 }}
He is leader of the United Democratic Party.
Career
=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.Daily Nation, November 18, 2002: [http://www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/18112002/News/Election%2020001.html Lobby groups resurface to cash in on election euphoria]
==1997-2001 Parliamentary Career==
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.Daily Nation March 11, 1999: [http://www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/110399/News/News22.html Jirongo party furious at Moi 'interference'] At the elections he represented KANU but was defeated by Enoch Kibunguchy of NARC.Information go.ke: [http://www.information.go.ke/indexg.php?c4=617 Kenyan parliamentary elections 2002 results - Lugari Constituency]{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
==Minister For Rural Development==
Ahead of the 2002 elections, he was appointed the Rural Development Minister by President Daniel arap Moi.Daily Nation, March 12, 2002: [http://www.nationaudio.com/elections/constituencyreviews/story12.htm An uphill task for Jirongo]
==2007-2012 Parliamentary Return==
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 a political crisis in Kenya which was resolved by a broad coalition government. KADDU was the only parliamentary party excluded from the government and Jirongo was the sole MP for the party.The Standard, April 27, 2008: [http://216.180.252.4/news/?id=1143985576 Dilemma as House braces for a one-man Opposition]{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} 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 {{cite web |url=http://www.the-star.co.ke/national/national/84709-jirongo-to-ditch-urp-for-a-new-party- |title=Jirongo to ditch URP for new party | the Star |accessdate=2012-07-23 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130218215513/http://www.the-star.co.ke/national/national/84709-jirongo-to-ditch-urp-for-a-new-party- |archivedate=2013-02-18 }} Jirongo to ditch URP for new partyJirongo tipped to join New Ford-Kenya Party http://allafrica.com/stories/201207050073.htmlJirongo launches presidential bid, pledges corruption fight http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2012/09/jirongo-launches-presidential-bid-pledges-corruption-fight/
==2013 Presidential Run==
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.{{cite news|title=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|url=https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Jirongo|accessdate=5 February 2013|newspaper=Daily Nation|date=9 January 2013}}
==2017 general elections==
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.{{Cite web |url=https://public.rts.iebc.or.ke/results/results.html |title=Public RTS |access-date=2017-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808150433/https://public.rts.iebc.or.ke/results/results.html |archive-date=2017-08-08 |url-status=dead }}
== 2022 general elections ==
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.{{Cite web |last=Otenyo |first=Hilton |date=18 August 2022 |title=Azimio's Jirongo congratulates President-elect Ruto |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/counties/nyanza/2022-08-18-azimios-jirongo-congratulates-president-elect-ruto/ |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=The Star |language=en-KE}}
Personal life
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.{{cite web |url=http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/839046/-/votcr9/-/index.html |
title= Polygamy: Kenyans speak out | accessdate=24 October 2017 |
date=9 January 2010 | newspaper=Daily Nation |first=Daniel |
last=Wesangula |location=Nairobi}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jirongo, Cyrus}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Kenya African National Union politicians
Category:United Democratic Movement (Kenya) politicians
Category:Government ministers of Kenya
Category:Alumni of Mang'u High School