Wafula Chebukati: The man who stood alone at the helm of Kenya’s Electoral storm

Wafula Wanyonyi Chebukati, the immediate former chairman of Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), has passed away at the age of 63.

His name will forever be etched in the country’s electoral history a man of quiet strength, a leader who stood firm amid political tempests, and a figure both celebrated and vilified in equal measure.

His journey at the helm of the country’s electoral body was anything but smooth. Leading three presidential elections, including one overturned by the Supreme Court, Chebukati navigated one of Kenya’s most challenging political landscapes.

He walked into the commission alone and, five years later, walked out the same way his tenure bookended by a commission in turmoil.”

The Making of a Chairman

“Before the chaos of electoral politics consumed his name, Chebukati was a well-respected lawyer with nearly four decades of experience. He ran his own law firm for 20 years before co-founding Cootow & Associates Advocates in 2006, specializing in arbitration and dispute resolution.

His first attempt at public office came in 2007 when he contested for the Saboti parliamentary seat under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket. He finished second, an experience that perhaps prepared him for the turbulence that would later define his tenure at IEBC.”

2017: A Trial by Fire

“January 2017 marked the beginning of Chebukati’s stormy reign at IEBC. His appointment as chairman came at a time when the credibility of Kenya’s electoral process was hanging by a thread. The commission was still reeling from the fallout of the 2013 election, and trust in its operations was at an all-time low.

Months later, just days before the August 8, 2017, General Election, tragedy struck. Chris Msando, IEBC’s ICT manager, was found brutally murdered in Kikuyu, Kiambu County. His death sent shockwaves across the nation and cast a chilling shadow over the credibility of the polls.

‘Msando’s murder remains one of the darkest moments in Kenya’s electoral history,’ a political analyst remarked.

Despite the crisis, Chebukati pressed on. He oversaw the election, but his biggest challenge was yet to come. On September 1, 2017, the Supreme Court of Kenya nullified the presidential election results, citing irregularities and illegalities. It was an unprecedented ruling never before had an African nation’s top court overturned a presidential election.

Chebukati was thrown into the eye of the storm. The IEBC was ordered to conduct a fresh presidential election within 60 days. However, tensions ran high. The opposition boycotted the repeat election, further deepening divisions within the commission.”

The Exodus: A Commission in Freefall

“With the credibility of the electoral body at stake, Chebukati made a bold move in April 2018 he suspended IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba, citing accountability concerns.

The decision sparked an internal revolt, and three commissioners Vice Chair Consolata Nkatha Maina, Paul Kurgat, and Margaret Mwachanya resigned in protest.

‘Given this severe deterioration of confidence in the commission chair, we find our position as commissioners under his leadership no longer tenable,’ the three commissioners declared in their resignation statement.

With only two commissioners remaining by his side Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu Chebukati found himself isolated. Yet, he remained unwavering.”

2022: The Ultimate Test

“As Kenya prepared for the 2022 General Election, four new commissioners Juliana Cherera, Justus Nyang’aya, Irene Masit, and Francis Wanderi were appointed to fill the vacant positions. But even before the results could be announced, the commission once again cracked under pressure.

On August 15, 2022, as Chebukati prepared to announce the presidential results, the four new commissioners staged a dramatic rebellion. They held a separate press conference at Serena Hotel, Nairobi, publicly disowning the results.

Meanwhile, at the Bomas of Kenya, chaos erupted. Opposition supporters stormed the tallying center, disputing the outcome. With security personnel shielding him, Chebukati declared William Ruto as the winner, cementing his reputation as a man who would not be swayed by political pressure.

‘Chebukati is a man who will go down in history as the only IEBC chairman who stood his ground even when abandoned by his own team,’ remarked a senior political commentator.”

A Chairman Without a Commission

“By the time he completed his tenure in January 2023, IEBC was in a state of disarray. The same way he had inherited a fractured commission, he left it with no single commissioner in place. The weight of history sat squarely on his shoulders.

Despite the controversies that marked his career, Chebukati was honored by President William Ruto on December 12, 2022, with the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (EGH), Kenya’s second-highest civilian award.

‘He may have been loved or hated, but one thing is certain Chebukati’s tenure defined Kenya’s electoral democracy in a way no other chairman before him ever did,’ a political scientist observed.”

“Legacy: A Divisive but Resilient Figure”

“Was Wafula Chebukati a patriot who upheld democracy, or was he a compromised figure in Kenya’s electoral journey? The jury is still out.

However, what remains indisputable is that he was a man who faced some of Kenya’s toughest political moments head-on. He endured political hostility, internal revolts, and court battles, yet he remained standing when many expected him to fall.

Chebukati leaves behind a legacy of resilience, controversy, and unwavering commitment to the electoral process, despite the storms that threatened to consume him.

Love him or hate him, his name will forever be inscribed in Kenya’s democratic journey for better or worse.”