Wafula Chebukati
{{Short description|Kenyan lawyer (1961–2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Wafula. Chebukati
| image = Wafula Chebukati (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Chebukati in 2024
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1961|12|19}}
| birth_place = Nanyuki County, Colony and Protectorate of Kenya
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2025|2|20|1961|12|22}}
| death_place = Nairobi, Kenya
| alma_mater = University of Nairobi (LLB)
Kenya School of Law (PGDip)
JKUAT (MBA)
| occupation = Lawyer
| years_active =
| nationality = Kenyan
| citizenship = Kenya
| known_for = Corporate Law, Commercial Law, Corporate Governance, Dispute Resolution
| networth =
| title = Former Chairperson, IEBC
| predecessor =
| spouse = Mary Chebukati Wanyonyi{{cite web | url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/article/2001457871/chebukatis-wife-among-first-to-appear-for-pss-interviews | title=Chebukati's wife among first to appear for PSS interviews }}
}}
Wafula Wanyonyi Chebukati (19 December 1961 – 20 February 2025) was a Kenyan lawyer and a one time chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which is responsible for overseeing elections in Kenya. Wafula Chebukati was appointed to the position on a six-year tenure in January 2017Capital FM, 18 January 2017 [https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2017/01/president-kenyatta-appoints-chebukati-head-iebc/ President Kenyatta Appoints Chebukati To Head IEBC]The Standard, 18 January 2017 [https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/counties/article/2000230400/uhuru-appoints-chebukati-as-new-iebc-chairman/ Uhuru Kenyatta appoints Chebukati as new IEBC Chairman] by the retired President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta. Following his appointment in 2017,Citizen Digital, 29 December 2016 [https://www.citizen.digital/news/uhuru-nominates-chebukati-as-iebc-chair-153373/ Uhuru Nominates Chebukati As IEBC Chair]Nation, 30 December 2016 [https://nation.africa/kenya/news/politics/uhuru-nominates-wafula-chebukati-to-succeed-issack-hassan-as-iebc-boss-343192/ Uhuru nominates Wafula Chebukati to succeed Issack Hassan as IEBC boss] he succeededStandard, 20 January 2017 [https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/counties/article/2000230672/issack-hassan-hands-over-office-to-new-iebc-chairperson-wafula-chebukati/ Issack Hassan hands over office to new IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati]The-Star, 20Jan 2017 [https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2017-01-20-time-up-issack-hassan-hands-over-to-new-iebc-boss-chebukati/ Time up: Issack Hassan hands over to new IEBC boss Chebukati] Ahmed Issack Hassan. He retired on 17 January 2023, following the end of his term. He led Kenya through two heavily contested and controversial general elections; August 2017 and 2022 General Elections.
His tenure at Kenya's electoral body was also one marred with resignation of IEBC commissioners, including his deputies, who faulted his leadership.{{Citation |last=Maupeu |first=Hervé |title=Kenyan Elections: |date=16 June 2015 |work=Kenya's Past as Prologue |pages=27–41 |url=https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvh8qxd1.7 |access-date=21 February 2025 |publisher=Twaweza Communications}}
Career
Chebukati was a Kenyan lawyer with many years of experience. He ran his sole proprietorship law firm for 20 years and thereafter in 2006 he founded a Nairobi-based partnership law firm, [https://cootowlaw.com Cootow & Associates Advocates], which he resigned from on 17 January 2017, prior to taking up the job as a State Officer in accordance with the law and in order to avoid conflict of interest. In 2017, he was accused of conflict of interest by fronting his law firm for contracts at the IEBC but the matter was dismissed by Parliament for lack of evidence.{{Cite web |date=28 June 2020 |title=Law firm linked to Chebukati got IEBC tenders for petitions |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/news/law-firm-linked-to-chebukati-got-iebc-tenders-for-petitions-33262 |access-date=22 March 2023 |website=Nation |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Nyamori |first=Moses |title=Chebukati awarded his firm, fronted others for contracts, claims Chiloba |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/politics/article/2001304553/chebukati-awarded-his-firm-fronted-others-for-contracts-claims-chiloba |access-date=22 March 2023 |website=The Standard |language=en}} He was a politician and member of the Orange Democratic Movement party, which he resigned from before applying for the position of Chairperson of IEBC.Nation, 10 January 2017 [https://nation.africa/kenya/news/politics/i-resigned-from-odm-iebc-boss-nominee-wafula-chebukati-says-346638/ I resigned from ODM, IEBC boss-nominee Wafula Chebukati says] In 2007, he contested for the Saboti Constituency parliamentary seat and came in second place.{{Cite web |last=Ayaga |first=Wilfred |title=I last met Raila in 2007, IEBC chairman nominee tells MPs |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/kenya/article/2000229408/i-last-met-raila-in-2007-iebc-chairman-nominee-tells-mps |access-date=22 March 2023 |website=The Standard |language=en}}
= IEBC Tenure =
In January 2017, he was appointed Chairperson of the IEBC.The-Star, 20 January 2017 [https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2017-01-20-chebukati-commissioners-sworn-in-to-head-iebc/ Chebukati, commissioners sworn in to head IEBC] During his tenure he managed three Kenyan elections: the 2017 Kenyan general election, October 2017 Kenyan presidential electionStandard, 30 October 2017 [https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001258864/kenyans-react-after-chebukati-declares-uhuru-winner/ Kenyans react after Chebukati declares Uhuru winner]KBC, 30 October 2017 [https://www.kbc.co.ke/iebc-set-declare-uhuru-kenyatta-president-elect/ IEBC Chair Chebukati declares Uhuru Kenyatta President-elect] and the 2022 Kenyan general election.The-Star, 16 August 2022 [https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2022-08-16-big-split-in-iebc-as-chebukati-declares-ruto-president-elect/ Big split in IEBC as Chebukati declares Ruto president-elect]Capital FM, 2 September 2022 [https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/2022/09/chebukati-defends-executive-powers-in-declaring-ruto-president-elect/ Chebukati Defends Executive Powers In Declaring Ruto President-Elect]
On 17 January 2023, Chebukati became the first Chairperson of the IEBC to successfully complete the 6-year constitutional term.{{Cite web |date=8 January 2023 |title=End of an era as Chebukati and two poll chiefs exit IEBC |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/news/politics/end-of-an-era-as-chebukati-and-two-poll-chiefs-exit-iebc--4079316 |access-date=22 March 2023 |website=Nation |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Nyarangi |first=Edwin |title=Which way IEBC? Chebukati, Guliye set to retire and commissioners wanted out |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001456132/which-way-iebc-chebukati-guliye-set-to-retire-and-commissioners-wanted-out |access-date=22 March 2023 |website=The Standard |language=en}} Chebukati was awarded Elder of the order of the Golden Heart (EGH) – Kenya's second highest award given to a civilian – by the President of Kenya.
Seven months following his appointment at the IEBC, he oversaw the 2017 elections that saw the Supreme Court of Kenya historically nullify the presidential election results over electoral irregularities and illegalities.{{Cite news |last=Freytas-Tamura |first=Kimiko de |date=1 September 2017 |title=Kenya Supreme Court Nullifies Presidential Election |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/01/world/africa/kenya-election-kenyatta-odinga.html |access-date=21 February 2025 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} During this period he had also lost two of his commisoners; Roslyn Akombe and his CEO Ezra Chiloba.{{Cite news |date=18 October 2017 |title=Kenya election official Roselyn Akombe flees to US |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-41660880 |access-date=21 February 2025 |language=en-GB}}
In 2018, IEBC Vice Chair Connie Nkatha Maina, together with fellow commissioners Margaret Mwachanya and Paul Kurgat, stood down from the electoral organising body citing the inability of the Commission's chairman Wafula Chebukati to lead IEBC effectively.{{Cite web |title=Kenya electoral board commissioners resign over leadership fight |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/4/16/kenya-electoral-board-commissioners-resign-over-leadership-fight |access-date=21 February 2025 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Correspondent |date=16 April 2018 |title=Three IEBC Commissioner Resign |url=https://www.kenyaforum.net/politics/three-iebc-commissioners-resign/ |access-date=21 February 2025 |website=The Kenya Forum |language=en}}
During the 2022 presidential election, Chebukati found himself at the center of intense political controversy. As the head of the IEBC, he was responsible for overseeing the election that saw William Ruto declared the winner against Raila Odinga. However, the results were heavily contested, with Odinga and his supporters alleging electoral fraud and irregularities. The situation escalated when four out of the seven IEBC commissioners disowned the final results, citing lack of transparency in the tallying process.{{Cite web |date=15 August 2022 |title=Four IEBC commissioners disown 2022 Presidential election results |url=https://www.citizen.digital/news/four-iebc-commissioners-disown-2022-presidential-election-results-n303946 |access-date=21 February 2025 |website=Citizen Digital |language=en-KE}} Chebukati, however, maintained that the election was conducted fairly and stood by the results,{{Cite web |date=26 August 2023 |title=Chebukati resurfaces, insists 2022 polls results were the ‘most credible’ |url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/chebukati-resurfaces-insists-2022-polls-results-were-the-most-credible--4348348 |access-date=21 February 2025 |website=The EastAfrican |language=en}} a decision that led to threats, legal battles, and heightened political tensions in the country. The Supreme Court eventually upheld Ruto's victory, but the disputed election further divided public opinion on Chebukati's legacy as an election official.{{Cite web |date=5 September 2022 |title=Supreme Court upholds William Ruto’s Victory – Kenya News Agency |url=https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/supreme-court-upholds-william-rutos-win-as-president-elect/ |access-date=21 February 2025 |language=en-GB}}
Personal life and death
Wafula Chebukati was born in Bungoma County on 22 December 1961. He was an alumni of St Peters School Mumias, Bokoli Secondary school and Lenana High School.{{Cite web |date=18 August 2022 |title=High Schools Chebukati, Cherera and Other Ex-IEBC Commissioners Attended - Kenyans.co.ke |url=https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/78606-high-schools-chebukati-cherera-and-other-iebc-commissioners-attended |access-date=21 February 2025 |website=www.kenyans.co.ke |language=en}}
Chebukati held a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Nairobi,Mpasho, 15 August 2022 [https://mpasho.co.ke/politics/2022-08-15-10-things-you-didnt-know-about-wafula-chebukati/ 10 things you didn't know about Wafula Chebukati] and Master of Business Administration from the JKUAT.
He was a member of LSK, Institute of Certified Secretaries, and ICJ.
He was married to Mary Wanyonyi, who was in 2023 nominated by President Ruto as the chairperson of the Commission of Revenue Allocation.{{Cite web |last=week |first=Stay up to date on the editors' picks of the |date=23 May 2023 |title=President Ruto nominates Wafula Chebukati’s wife for CRA chair |url=https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/economy/president-ruto-nominates-wafula-chebukati-wife-for-cra-chair-4244570 |access-date=21 February 2025 |website=Business Daily |language=en}}
Chebukati became critically ill in 2024, and died in Nairobi on 21 February 2025, at the age of 63.[https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/realtime/2025-02-21-ex-iebc-chair-chebukati-is-dead EX-IEBC Chair Chebukati is dead]
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chebukati, Wafula}}
Category:Alumni of Lenana School
Category:University of Nairobi alumni
Category:Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology alumni