Why Jirongo Through Moi's Order Sent a Crowd of Youths to JKIA to Welcome Matiba From London in 1992

A publication by the Daily Nation media group on Wednesday, 17th, December, 2025, has disclosed to the public why former Lugari constituency Member of Parliament, late Cyrus Jirongo, who was acting on the directives of the late President Daniel Arap Moi, sent hundreds of youths to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, to welcome Kenneth Matiba from London in 1992.

As per the publication, before the 1992 Presidential election was held, the late Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi was completely scared that he would lose the election, to the then United Opposition, that was being led by the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. 

Other members of the opposition were late President Mwai Kibaki and Kenneth Matiba who had garnered immense influence in the political arena.

As a result, mission to spilt the three allies in bid to neutralize their influence was silently orchestrated by powerful forces under Moi's regime, and late Cyrus Jirongo who was untouchable while spearheading the Youth for Kanu '92, (YK92) group, was given the orders to fulfill the mission. 

At that time, Kenneth Matiba was away as he had gone to seek treatment in London.

Cyrus Jirongo's first assignment in dividing the opposition was to first deal with Kenneth Stanley Matiba, as he was the first prominent insider to publicly ditch the Kenya African National Union (KANU) party and President Moi. 

On the day he (Matiba) was returning back to Kenya after treatment, the government was already aware, and a plot had silently been orchestrated by Cyrus Jirongo to tame the opposition down.

As a result, Mr Jirongo through his YK92 underground army mobilized hundreds of youths who were facilitated by the government to go to the JKIA airport, to welcome Kenneth Matiba back to Kenya. 

Surprisingly, the youths were ordered to wear Forum for the Restoration of Democracy–Kenya (FORD–Kenya) party colours, (a party Matiba, Jaramogi belonged to.)

After Matiba landed at the JKIA Airport, he was escorted at a snail's pace by the group of youths, who were loudly chanting his name, to where Jaramogi Oginga was holding his political rally.

According to the late Cyrus Jiringo, the move was aimed at scaring Jaramogi Oginga, and to make him feel that he was not as popular as his ally Kenneth Matiba. 

The government was sure that Mr Jaramogi would feel politically vulnerable.

The calculative move went on to bare fruits, as cracks in the opposition started to form months later before Kenneth Matiba and Jaramogi Oginga finally split.