Wafula Chebukati, the former chairman of Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), passed away on February 20, 2025, at Nairobi Hospital after a prolonged illness. Family sources revealed he had been in intensive care for a week, battling an undisclosed condition speculated to be cancer. Chebukati, 63, leaves behind a legacy marked by electoral controversy and resilience in Kenya’s fraught democratic journey.
Born in 1961, Chebukati was a seasoned lawyer before his appointment as IEBC chair in 2017. Tasked with steering Kenya through two high-stakes elections, his tenure was defined by legal acumen and political firestorms. His predecessor, Ahmed Issack Hassan, handed over a commission still reeling from the botched 2017 polls, setting the stage for Chebukati’s baptism by fire.
His first test came in August 2017, when he declared Uhuru Kenyatta president. Opposition leader Raila Odinga challenged the results, leading to a landmark Supreme Court ruling that nullified the election over irregularities—a first in Africa. The court ordered a rerun, which Odinga boycotted, citing unresolved flaws. Despite low turnout and violence, Chebukati defended the repeat poll’s credibility, cementing his reputation as a steadfast but polarizing figure.
The 2022 election intensified scrutiny. On August 15, Chebukati announced William Ruto as president-elect by a slim margin of 50.5% to 48.8%, igniting chaos at the tallying center. Four IEBC commissioners, led by Juliana Cherera, rejected the results, alleging opaque processes. Chebukati, backed by commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye, stood firm, insisting the outcome reflected voters’ will. President Ruto later alleged a plot to assassinate Chebukati to sabotage the results, hailing him as a “hero of democracy.”
Critics accused Chebukati of enabling electoral malpractice, particularly in 2017, when opposition strongholds saw suppressed participation. In 2022, tech failures and last-minute procedural changes fueled distrust. Yet, he remained unyielding, advocating for IEBC’s autonomy. At a 2023 Lisbon symposium, he lamented political interference, citing the 2022 Bomas disruption as an attack on democracy.
Beyond the fray, Chebukati guarded his privacy. Married to Mary Wanyonyi, a revenue allocation chairperson, he was a father of three and an avid golfer. His retirement in 2023 offered brief respite before his health declined in 2024. Colleagues recalled his dedication, epitomized by his 2022 eulogy for IEBC official Daniel Musyoka, whose death underscored electoral workers’ risks: “We cannot make IEBC a death sentence.”
Reactions to Chebukati’s death mirror his career’s divisions. President Ruto praised his “unshakable integrity,” while opposition figures like Ledama Olekina reiterated claims of institutional capture. Social media buzzed with debates—some lauding his resolve, others blaming stress from the role for his demise.
As Kenya seeks a new IEBC chair, Chebukati’s tenure remains a referendum on electoral integrity. His story encapsulates the peril and promise of democracy: a man who weathered storms, revered and reviled, yet indelibly shaping a nation’s path.
— Additional reporting by Kenya’s electoral history analysts and public records.
