A viral social media claim attributed to Fred Gumo says the torch ritual from the Tiriki community has started working after Cyrus Jirongo’s burial. The post quotes him saying the car believed to have killed Jirongo turned on its lights by itself inside a police station, scaring officers who ran away.
Jirongo, the former Lugari MP, was buried on December 30, 2025, in Lumakanda, Kakamega County. His death came from a road crash on December 13 along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway. Police investigations found no foul play. It was a head-on collision with a bus. Autopsy confirmed blunt force trauma.
The torch ritual became a big issue during the funeral. In Tiriki customs, part of the Luhya community, burying someone with a lit torch for unnatural deaths is believed to help the spirit pursue those responsible.
Some leaders pushed for it. Senator Boni Khalwale performed rites with a torch near the casket but did not place one in the grave.
Fred Gumo chaired the burial committee. He spoke against full traditional rituals. He called some outdated and said they could upset the family. Gumo wanted to focus on police investigations instead of customs.
He defended the symbolic use of the torch as a call for better probes. But nothing about supernatural events at a police station.
The claim spreads on platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook. It fits rumours around suspicious deaths in Kenya. People share it to suggest the ritual works. Others see it as misinformation during grief.
Jirongo’s wrecked Mercedes went to a police yard for evidence. Standard in crash cases. No official word of strange happenings there.
Police closed the case as an accident. DCI shared CCTV and witness details. They ruled out chasing vehicles.
Family and leaders asked for transparency early on. But accepted findings later. The burial mixed Christian service with some cultural elements.
Rumours like this happen often at high-profile funerals. Mix of belief, doubt, and online sharing.
Gumo, a former Westlands MP, stayed focused on dignity. He urged calm and facts.
As time passes, the story quietens. Jirongo is remembered for his political role in the 1990s and later years.
Claims of rituals working get attention. Speaking at the event, Gumo said, “Torch ya Watiriki imeanza kufanya kazi; ile gari wanasema ilimuuwa imewasha torch pekee yake kwa police station mpaka polisi wakatoroka!” Fred Gumo’s shocking revelation. “Police handle evidence normally.
People in western Kenya follow traditions differently now. Some hold strong. Others move away.
The viral post circulates. But no backing from Gumo or reports. Likely just talk in tense times.
Funerals bring emotions. Stories spread fast. This one adds to the mix around Jirongo’s send-off.
Investigations done. Burial over. Life goes on in Lumakanda. Memories of the politician remain. Rumours fade eventually.
