National Assembly Speaker Moses Masika Wetang’ula dismissed what he termed as “sensationalised and malicious” media reports suggesting that he was interrogated or treated as a suspect in the homicide investigation following the death of former Lugari Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister, the late Cyrus Jirongo.
Speaking during an interview on Wednesday during TV47’s Daily Report segment, The Insight the Speaker clarified that his interaction with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) was purely voluntary and aimed at assisting investigators, after it emerged that he was among the last people to meet Jirongo before his death.
Wetang’ula said he took great exception to reports linking him to the incident.
“The headline and the story inside had no relationship whatsoever. What was portrayed is that I had been summoned, questioned and interrogated. That is total hogwash,” he said.
He explained that on the night of December 12, he met Cyrus Jirongo at his Karen residence between 8:30pm and 9:30pm, after which Jirongo left to head home.
Upon learning of his friend’s death the following day, Wetang’ula said he personally reached out to the DCI to record a statement, noting that it was important to help investigators retrace Jirongo’s last movements.
“I volunteered a statement on my own volition. Nobody interrogated me. I was not summoned,” he said, adding that several other individuals, including businessman Redman Malala, ex-Vihiga Senator George Khaniri, his wife and a couple of individuals, also recorded statements, but were conspicuously excluded from media focus.
Wetang’ula questioned why he was singled out, terming the reporting as malicious and calculated to paint him as a suspect in the public eye, despite the DCI having already briefed the nation and indicated that the matter had been concluded.
He further revealed that he has instructed his lawyers to pursue legal action over what he described as reputational harm caused by false reporting.
Beyond the controversy, the Speaker spoke emotionally about his close personal relationship with the late Jirongo, describing him as a longtime friend whose loss continues to weigh heavily on him.
“Was Jirongo my friend? Yes. Did his family know this? Yes. My family knows how close he was to me. When you lose somebody close to you, it hits you,” Wetang’ula said, adding that their final conversation was ordinary and focused on personal and business matters, with nothing unusual discussed.
Addressing claims by Senator (Dr.) Boni Khalwale who alleged seeing Jirongo frequently visiting the Speaker’s office, Wetang’ula dismissed the assertions as strange and intrusive, stating that he owed no one an explanation about private discussions with a personal friend.
While acknowledging that public office comes with intense scrutiny, Wetang’ula warned against reckless commentary built on false premises, saying such narratives undermine both individual reputations and institutional integrity.
Nonetheless, he said he remains guided by his conscience and untroubled by political noise, reiterating his willingness to support Jirongo’s family with legal advice should they request it.
“As a lawyer, if the family asks me to help them in any way, I will. If they don’t, equity does not help volunteers,” he said.
