BREAKING NEWS: WAFULA CHEBUKATI IS DEAD

Who is Wafula Chebukati? The Man Behind Kenya’s Electoral Drama

Early Life and Education

Wafula Chebukati was born on December 22, 1961, in Kiminini, Trans Nzoia County. He attended St. Peter’s Mumias Boys High School and Lenana High School before proceeding to the University of Nairobi, where he earned a law degree in 1985. He later obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from JKUAT.

Legal and Political Career

Chebukati practiced law for over three decades, specializing in governance, international trade law, and dispute resolution. He ran his own law firm before founding Cootow & Associates Advocates. In 2007, he unsuccessfully vied for the Saboti parliamentary seat under ODM but later distanced himself from active politics.

IEBC Chairmanship & Controversies

Appointed as IEBC Chairman in 2017, Chebukati’s tenure was nothing short of a political thriller.

2017 Elections – Oversaw Uhuru Kenyatta’s controversial win, which was nullified by the Supreme Court due to irregularities. The repeat election was boycotted by Raila Odinga, deepening Kenya’s political divide.

2022 Elections – Declared William Ruto as president in a highly dramatic fashion, as four commissioners (dubbed the “Cherera Four”) disowned the results. The Supreme Court upheld Ruto’s win, but accusations of election fraud and external influence lingered.

Hospitalization & Final Days

After leaving office in 2023, Chebukati kept a low profile. Reports later emerged that he had been hospitalized for months due to an undisclosed illness. His tenure remains one of Kenya’s most polarizing, with supporters hailing him as a defender of democracy while critics accuse him of deepening electoral mistrust.

What do you remember most about Chebukati’s time at IEBC?🤔

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