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The former Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Wafula Chebukati, passed away Thursday night in Nairobi. He was 63. The details surrounding his death remain unclear, but family has stated that discussions are ongoing regarding whether to conduct a postmortem to determine the exact cause.
Eric Nyongesa Wafula, the family spokesperson, addressed journalists outside Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi on Friday morning, saying the family was still coming to terms with the loss and had yet to consult with doctors about the circumstances of Chebukati’s passing.
“Last night, we lost the former IEBC chairman. He passed on in hospital. The family kindly requests privacy at this moment. A formal statement will be issued after our family meeting,” Nyongesa Wafula said.
He added that Chebukati had been unwell and passed away shortly after 11:00 pm.
Chebukati’s tenure as IEBC chair from 2017 to 2023 placed him at the heart of some of Kenya’s most contentious and consequential elections. His decisions, resilience, and leadership during those periods shaped the country’s political landscape and will be remembered for years to come.
Born in Bungoma County, Chebukati was a seasoned lawyer before venturing into public service. He studied law at the University of Nairobi and later pursued a postgraduate diploma at the Kenya School of Law. His early career saw him build a successful legal practice specializing in commercial and constitutional law.
In 2017, he was appointed IEBC chairperson, a position that immediately placed him at the center of Kenya’s volatile electoral process. His first major test came that same year when the Supreme Court nullified the presidential election results, citing irregularities. The ruling forced a repeat election, which was boycotted by the opposition, fueling political tensions.
Despite facing political pressure, threats, and internal divisions within the IEBC, Chebukati remained steadfast in defending the independence of the electoral commission. His tenure saw the resignation of some of his commissioners and the tragic murder of IEBC ICT Manager Chris Msando just days before the 2017 polls, an event that cast a long shadow over his leadership.
His role in the 2022 general election was equally significant. Despite divisions within the IEBC, Chebukati announced William Ruto as the winner, an outcome fiercely contested by Raila Odinga and other opposition figures. The election was upheld by the Supreme Court.
Following news of his death, tributes poured in from across the political spectrum. President William Ruto mourned Chebukati as a diligent and principled leader who upheld the rule of law and served the nation with integrity.
“I have received the news of the passing of former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chairperson Wafula Chebukati with profound sorrow. Chebukati was a principled and diligent leader who served the nation with integrity,” Ruto said.
Leaders from both government and opposition acknowledged his role in Kenya’s democracy, with some hailing his commitment to electoral transparency, while others remained critical of his tenure.
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