Ex-Lugari MP Jirongo arrested over Sh20m debt owed to businessman

Cyrus Jirongo. [PHOTO:WILBERFORCE OKWIRI]

Former Lugari Member of Parliament Cyrus Jirongo was Tuesday arrested for failing to pay a Sh20 million debt owed to a Nairobi businessman.

Jirongo was arrested on Tuesday afternoon and detained at the Muthangari Police Station over the civil matter.

A Court in Nairobi issued a civil warrant of arrest against Jirongo in August over the loan balance owed to businessman Brian Yongo.

The deputy registrar of the court ordered the Muthangari Officer Commanding Station (OCS) on August 7, to arrest the former presidential aspirant for reportedly failing to pay the amount.

The registrar further directed Jirongo to pay the expenses including fare and fuel that would be incurred by the executing officers.

“These are to command you to arrest the said J/D and unless the sum of Ksh.20 million as noted in the margin, together with the executing officers’ expenses fees. If any, to bring the said debtor before the court with all convenient speed,” reads the order.

Yongo has accused Jirongo of failing to pay him the balance of a loan he advanced him. He allegedly loaned Jirongo Sh25 million between 2014 and 2015 but the former politician has since paid only Sh5 million.

According to Yongo, the entire loan was to be settled in three installments.

The businessman cited Jirongo’s failure to settle the debt as his reason of moving to court in order to recover the money.

“Let him go and tell the court when he will pay back the money,” said Yongo Tuesday.

He said the issue was a court matter and would be solved there. Yongo refused to explain the reason behind the said loan.

Jirongo is a former powerful politician in the country.