Aasai

Former IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati has passed away, barely a week after being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). He had been receiving treatment at home for several days before being hospitalized.

His death was confirmed by a family member, though the cause remains undisclosed. While speculation about his illness circulated on social media, sources close to the matter have not provided any details.

Chebukati served as the chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for six years, from 2017 until his retirement in 2023. During his tenure, he oversaw both the 2017 and 2022 general elections.

Born on December 22, 1961, he attended Lenana High School in Nairobi before pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Law at the University of Nairobi. He later earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).

A member of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Chebukati gained public attention in 2007 when he contested the Saboti parliamentary seat on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket. However, he lost to Eugene Wamalwa, who was running under the Party of National Unity (PNU).

Following his defeat, he resigned from ODM and later applied for the IEBC chairperson position, to which he was appointed by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Chebukati married Mary Chebukati in 1990, and together they had three children: two sons, Jonathan and Emmanuel, and a daughter, 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.