Known for his fiery rhetoric and unflinching critiques of the powerful, Jirongo’s final public appearance on K24’s Amka Kenya in July 2025 offered a chilling indictment of President William Ruto.
“You people to date have not understood William Ruto, and it makes me sad,” Jirongo said. “If you still believe a single word he tells you, this country will never recover. William speaks only for himself.”
Jirongo’s history with Ruto stretched back decades. As co-founders of the Youth for KANU ’92 movement, they once mobilized young Kenyans against the Moi regime.
But their alliance soured early, with Jirongo accusing Ruto of defrauding him of millions from a youth-focused business venture.
Over the years, Jirongo repeatedly warned that Ruto’s ambitions prioritized personal gain over national welfare, even alleging acts of violence tied to Ruto’s rise.
Since Ruto assumed the presidency in 2022, many of Jirongo’s warnings have gained resonance. Kenya’s public debt surged to 70% of GDP by mid-2025, while a series of tax hikes—including on housing, fuel, and bread—stoked protests and deepened inequality.
Poverty rates climbed to 37%, disproportionately affecting formal sector workers, and youth-led demonstrations turned deadly, highlighting a growing disconnect between government policy and public welfare.
Jirongo, who once ran for president himself, positioned his political career around exposing elite capture and corruption.
His death comes as the Ruto administration unveils ambitious privatization and “economic freedom” initiatives, which critics argue favor regime consolidation over citizen relief.
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