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Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Wafula Chebukati has passed away while receiving treatment at a hospital in Nairobi.
His death comes just days after he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) following an extended period of treatment at home.
A family member confirmed the sad news to Kenyans.co.ke on Friday morning. However, while reports of his illness had circulated widely on social media, the exact cause of his death remains undisclosed.
Chebukati’s Career and Legacy
Wafula Chebukati served as the IEBC chairperson for six years until his retirement in 2023. During his tenure, he oversaw the 2017 and 2022 general elections, navigating some of Kenya’s most intense electoral periods.
Born on December 22, 1961, Chebukati attended Lenana High School in Nairobi before enrolling at the University of Nairobi (UoN), where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Law. He later pursued a Master’s degree in Business Administration at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).
A member of both the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Chebukati first gained national attention in 2007 when he vied for the Saboti parliamentary seat under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party. However, he lost to Eugene Wamalwa, who ran on a Party of National Unity (PNU) ticket.
Following his unsuccessful political bid, Chebukati resigned from ODM and later applied for the IEBC chairmanship, a position he was nominated for by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Personal Life and Net Worth
In 1990, Chebukati married Mary Chebukati, and together they had three children—Jonathan, Emmanuel, and Rachael.
By 2022, his net worth was estimated at Ksh120 million, with a monthly salary of approximately Ksh900,000 while serving as the IEBC chairperson.
His passing marks the end of a significant chapter in Kenya’s electoral history, as he played a key role in shaping the country’s democratic processes.
