Inside Jirongo's 'Savage Politics': The YouTube platform that kept him politically active

Despite maintaining a low political profile in public, the late Cyrus Jirongo sustained an active one on his YouTube channel, Thee Alfa House.

Through the channel, CJ, as he was commonly known, became the host of his show dubbed Savage Politics—a platform for hard-hitting political conversations where he hosted guests.

A businessman and politician, Jirongo was a former MP for Lugari, a Cabinet Minister, and an Assistant Minister during the Kanu regime.

The channel, which now has 308,000 subscribers and over 1,300 videos, hosted many figures, including politicians and political analysts, to discuss issues related to Kenyan, African, and global politics, among others.

Among his regular guests were Prof Patrick Lumumba (commonly known as PLO Lumumba), Herman Manyora, and Macharia Munene, among others.

He hosted People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua during the premiere episode of Savage Politics.

Later, he hosted Zack Kinuthia, motivational speaker Fanya Mambo Kinuthia, Members of Parliament Millie Odhiambo, Babu Owino, Beatrice Elachi, and Anthony Kibagendi, as well as politicians Reuben Kigame and Kipruto arap Kirwa.

The channel’s last show was hosted by journalist Willis Raburu, who discussed the essence of Tanzania’s Independence Day—during which citizens were forced to stay home by the government—corruption in Kenya, the high cost of living, rhino conservation, and Mike Sonko’s party.

Jirongo’s last appearance on the show was five months ago, when he hosted Thirdway Alliance Party leader Dr Ekuru Aukot. The topic of discussion was Kenya on the Brink? The discussion coincided with the Saba Saba commemoration.

Apart from Raburu, Sarah Mwangi also served as a host. She hosted Jirongo nine months ago, with the discussion centered on: Is Ruto Doing Business With Sudan RSF Militia and With Kagame in Congo?

At one point, Jirongo got an opportunity to shed light on claims about his “dark past” when he hosted Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.

During the interview, which has generated over 400,000 views, Sifuna asked the former MP whether, during the Kanu regime, he printed Sh500 notes bearing his name.

“Are you saying the money that I received was Goldenberg money?” posed Sifuna.

“Obviously, it was Goldenberg money,” Jirongo responded.

Sifuna followed up: “You were not printing money?”

Jirongo said that the only people who can print money are the government.

“Remember this, there even existed a bank called Exchange Bank, purposely set up under the pretext that we were looking for dollars. The money was being given by the Central Bank to these people, adding them 33 per cent for import compensation. That is the money that was being distributed,” he said.

When Sifuna asked why his name was linked to the Sh500 note, Jirongo responded: “Thank God I am alive; I can still talk. I was even under attack, if you remember. The time they opened fire on me in Westlands, they really tried hard to find a scapegoat. That scapegoat was meant to be YK92, a team that I led. They tried and tried, including elimination, so that they could find somewhere to place the blame.”

During the interview, the former MP said he had written a book detailing what transpired from 1992 and promised to release it at the right time, though it now appears it may never be published following his untimely death.

“When this matter is interrogated in detail and when I put pen to paper and tell Kenyans—” Sifuna interjected, “You are writing a book?”

“I wrote it a long time ago, but I can’t release it because I’ll end up in… some people might just murder me. But the book is already there. We cannot give it out at the moment, but it will come out at the right time. Kenyans need to understand,” Jirongo said.

He revealed that YK92 was operated by the country’s intelligence and State House, and that he was not in direct control of the group.

“But if you remember, there was even a coup in YK92 led by Sam Nyamweya and a few other people to kick me out because I was not toeing the line. There is a wrong perception about individuals without proper interrogation,” said Jirongo.