The family of former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chair Wafula Chebukati has confirmed that he passed away due to cardiac arrest.
Family spokesperson Eric Nyongesa stated that Chebukati suffered a fatal heart attack, though a postmortem will be conducted to establish the exact cause.
Chebukati, who had been battling brain cancer, underwent two surgeries before his death.
According to his family, he was diagnosed with the condition in April 2023 and had sought medical treatment both in Kenya and abroad. He was admitted to a hospital in Nairobi last week in critical condition, where doctors later placed him on life support.
Medical professionals reportedly informed the family that there was little more they could do to save him.
Chebukati passed away on the night of Thursday, February 20, after weeks of hospitalization. He will be laid to rest on March 8 at his farm in Kitale.
His death has sparked a wave of reactions from Kenyans, with some linking his illness and passing to his tenure at the electoral commission. Chebukati, who oversaw both the 2017 and 2022 presidential elections, was a polarizing figure in Kenya’s political landscape. While some viewed him as a principled official who upheld democracy, others accused him of mismanaging the electoral process.
In January 2023, President William Ruto claimed there had been a plot to assassinate Chebukati during the August 9, 2022, election period. Speaking at State House Nairobi, Ruto alleged that certain individuals attempted to coerce IEBC officials through bribery, blackmail, and intimidation in a bid to manipulate the presidential results. He further claimed that some commissioners were promised lucrative incentives to alter the outcome.
Chebukati was appointed as IEBC chair in January 2017 by former President Uhuru Kenyatta for a six-year term. He took office just months before the contentious 2017 General Election, following the resignation of his predecessors amid opposition-led protests. His tenure saw two highly disputed elections that left the country divided.
To his supporters, Chebukati was a resilient leader who stood firm under immense pressure. To his critics, he was the face of electoral controversies that shook the nation. He also presided over some of the most expensive elections in Africa, once admitting that Kenya’s electoral process was among the costliest in the region.
Beyond his role in Kenya’s politics, Chebukati was an avid golfer and a member of several golf clubs, including the Kenya Golfing Society. He had previously served as the captain and chairman of both Mombasa and Nyali Golf Clubs and was also a committee member of the Kenya Golf Union.
Born in Bokoli village, Bungoma County, Chebukati held an MBA degree from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. His legacy remains a subject of debate, with the country still grappling with the impact of the elections he oversaw.
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