As dawn broke on the Nairobi–Nakuru highway, a bus driver stood by the roadside, shaken and struggling to process what had just unfolded. Hours later, he learned that the man who died in the head-on collision was Cyrus Jirongo, a former Cabinet minister and veteran politician.

The driver of the 65-seater bus, who spoke shortly after the crash on Saturday morning, said the accident happened in seconds. Traffic had slowed to a crawl along the single-carriage stretch near Karai, outside Naivasha. Then, he said, a car suddenly appeared in his lane.

“I have worked for this bus company for nearly eight years,” the 52-year-old driver said. “Today’s accident involved my bus and a Mercedes. The Mercedes was coming from a petrol station.”

According to his account, Mr Jirongo had pulled onto the highway and encountered a long queue of vehicles ahead. The driver said the former lawmaker tried to overtake by moving into the opposite lane — the one reserved for traffic heading towards Nakuru — just as the bus was approaching at speed.

“I was heading to Busia from Nairobi,” he said. “The Mercedes did not give way. The driver saw there were vehicles on his route and decided to come my way. That is what caused the accident.”

The bus driver said he saw the manoeuvre unfold but had no room to escape. Swerving, he explained, could have sent the bus rolling, putting dozens of passengers at risk.

“When I tried to save him from crashing into my vehicle, I felt the possibility of my bus rolling over,” he said. “So I stopped. There was nowhere to go.”

The collision killed Mr Jirongo instantly, police said. He was alone in the car. The bus was carrying about 65 passengers, none of whom were reported to have died.

“It was only when the police arrived that I learned the victim was Honourable Jirongo,” the driver said quietly.

Photos shared online later showed the Mercedes badly mangled, its windscreen shattered and tyres torn apart — a stark image of the force of the impact.

Police have said investigations into the crash are ongoing. Traffic officers at the scene cautioned against drawing conclusions before the inquiry is complete, noting that early accounts are often incomplete.

Mr Jirongo, 64, served as Minister for Rural Development in 2002 under President Daniel arap Moi and represented Lugari Constituency in Parliament for two separate terms. His death has prompted an outpouring of tributes — and renewed concern over safety on one of Kenya’s busiest highways.