Joy ShikwatiFormer Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson Wafula Chebukati has passed away. He was 64 years old. The family confirmed his death, which occurred at 11 pm on Thursday in a Nairobi hospital.
Wafula Chebukati death follows a week of treatment at the facility, including time spent in the Intensive Care Unit. The specific cause of his illness has not been publicly disclosed. News of his critical condition had been reported by The Star last week.
Chebukati served a full six-year term as IEBC chair, retiring in January 2023. His tenure was notable for overseeing three Kenyan general elections: the 2017 general election, the October 2017 repeat presidential election, and the 2022 general election.
A lawyer by profession, Chebukati had 37 years of experience. He ran his own law firm for 20 years before founding the Nairobi-based partnership law firm Cootow & Associate Advocates in 2006. He resigned from the firm on January 17, 2017, prior to taking on the IEBC chairmanship. His legal expertise focused on corporate law, commercial law, corporate governance, and dispute resolution.
Chebukati’s background also included politics. He was a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, from which he resigned before applying for the IEBC chairperson position.
While Wafula Chebukati maintained privacy regarding his family life, it is known that he was married to Mary Chebukati. In 2023, Mary Chebukati was appointed Chairperson of the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA), succeeding Jane Kiringai.
Beyond his professional life, Chebukati was a keen golfer. He served as captain and chairman of both the Nyali and Mombasa Golf Clubs and was a member of the Kenya Golfing Society.
