Kenyan former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Wafula Chebukati has died while receiving treatment at a Nairobi hospital.
Chebukati passed away barely a week after being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). He had been undergoing treatment at home before his condition worsened. A family member confirmed his death to Kenyans.co.ke on Friday morning.
Kenyan President William William Ruto mourned Chebukati as a principled and diligent leader who served Kenya with integrity. "His death is a great loss to our country. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time," Ruto stated.
Chebukati chaired the IEBC for six years until his retirement in 2023. He presided over the 2017 and 2022 general elections, playing a pivotal role in Kenya’s electoral process.
Born on December 22, 1961, he attended Lenana High School before joining the University of Nairobi for a law degree. He later earned a Master’s in Business Administration from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).
His political journey began in 2007 when he contested for the Saboti parliamentary seat on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket but lost to Eugene Wamalwa. He later resigned from ODM and was appointed IEBC chairperson by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Chebukati was a member of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
He is survived by his wife, Mary Chebukati, and their three children, Jonathan, Emmanuel, and Rachael.
