Wafula Chebukati: Kenyans mourn the demise of former EIEBC Chairman
NAIROBI: IN a sad turn of events, the former Chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of Kenya, Wafula Chebukati has passed away at the age of 62.
The news was confirmed by his son, Emmanuel Chebukati, who stated that his father died at a hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, where he had been receiving treatment.
Chebukati had been ill for about a week and had been in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) before his death.
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Chebukati served as the Chairman of IEBC from January 2017 to January 17, 2023, overseeing Kenya’s general elections in 2017 and 2022.
Kenyan President William Ruto expressed his condolences, stating, “I have received with deep sorrow the news of the passing of the former Chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, Wafula Chebukati. His death is a great loss to our nation. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time. May he rest in peace.”
Chebukati will be remembered for announcing President Ruto as the winner of the 2022 presidential election, a highly contested race that later led to internal disputes within the Commission. Chebukati declared Ruto the winner with 50.49 percent of the votes, while Raila Odinga of Azimio secured 48.5 percent.
