Former IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati passed away on Thursday night after a prolonged illness that began soon after his retirement from the electoral commission.
Chebukati, who stepped down in January 2023 alongside two colleagues, had overseen a contentious election in which four commissioners disputed the presidential results. Shortly after his retirement, he fell ill and was reportedly flown abroad for medical treatment. While the exact diagnosis remained undisclosed, sources indicated he had been battling brain cancer, diabetes, and hypertension. He passed away at the Nairobi Hospital at the age of 64.
Before his hospitalization, Chebukati had been receiving home care in Nairobi. On Friday, family spokesperson Eric Nyongesa stated that a decision on whether to conduct a postmortem was yet to be made, urging the public to avoid speculation. Chebukati’s widow, Mary Wanyonyi, along with his sons and father, gathered at Lee Funeral Home.
President William Ruto mourned him as a principled leader who served with integrity, while Deputy President Kithure Kindiki described him as firm yet fair. Opposition leader Raila Odinga, who previously accused Chebukati of election malpractice, had not commented on his passing.
Chebukati’s tenure at the IEBC was marked by controversy, overseeing three presidential elections that were heavily contested in court. His leadership faced internal rifts, particularly during the 2022 election when four commissioners publicly opposed his declaration of William Ruto as president-elect. Despite legal challenges, the Supreme Court upheld the results.
After retiring in January 2023, Chebukati was awarded the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (EGH) by Ruto, recognizing his service. The process of appointing his successor remains ongoing.
