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Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson Wafula Chebukati succumbed to complications arising from brain cancer, his family has confirmed.
Chebukati was first diagnosed with a brain tumour, which led to a series of medical procedures.
He underwent surgery in Germany to remove the tumour, but in April 2024, doctors discovered that it had returned, requiring a second operation.
Despite these efforts, his condition worsened towards the end of 2024, leading to multiple hospitalisations.
In February 2025, he was readmitted to a Nairobi hospital, where he was placed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
On February 20, he suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away.
Following his passing, social media was flooded with speculation that he had been declared "clinically dead" days before his official death.
However, family spokesperson Eric Wafula Nyongesa dismissed these claims, stating that the immediate family was never informed of such a declaration.
Chebukati will be laid to rest on March 8, 2025, at his home in Sabata village near Kitale, Trans Nzoia County.
The family has also confirmed that a post-mortem examination will be conducted ahead of the burial.
Wafula Chebukati profile
Born in Bungoma County, Kenya, he pursued his early education at St. Peter’s Mumias Boys High School and Bokoli Secondary School, before completing his secondary education at Lenana High School in Nairobi.
He earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi and later obtained a Master of Business Administration from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).
Before his tenure at the IEBC, Chebukati had an extensive legal career spanning over 36 years.
In 2006, he founded the Nairobi-based law firm Cootow & Associates Advocates, where he specialized in corporate and commercial law, governance, and environmental law.
His legal expertise was complemented by his active membership in the Law Society of Kenya and the Institute of Certified Secretaries.
Attempt at elective politics
Chebukati ventured into politics in 2007, contesting for the Saboti parliamentary seat under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, though he was not successful.
He subsequently distanced himself from active politics and resigned from ODM before he was appointed the IEBC Chairperson in January 2017 by then-President Uhuru Kenyatta.
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During his six-year tenure, he oversaw the 2017 and 2022 general elections, both of which were marked by significant political disputes and legal challenges.
Elections
Notably, the 2017 presidential election results were annulled by the Supreme Court, leading to a rerun. In the 2022 elections, his declaration of William Ruto as president-elect was met with internal divisions within the IEBC, as four commissioners publicly disowned the results.
Despite the controversies, Chebukati was recognised for his steadfast commitment to upholding the constitutional mandate of the IEBC.
He completed his term on January 17, 2023, becoming the first IEBC Chairperson to serve a full term. In recognition of his service, he was awarded the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (EGH), Kenya's second-highest civilian honour.
He was married to Mary Chebukati Wanyonyi, and together they had three children. Mary was nominated in 2023 by President William Ruto to chair the Commission on Revenue Allocation.