Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson Wafula Chebukati passed away on Thursday, February 20, 2025, after suffering a cardiac arrest while undergoing treatment at a Nairobi hospital.
In a statement issued by family spokesperson Eric Wafula Nyongesa, it was revealed that Chebukati had been battling a brain tumor, leading to two surgeries in Germany. The first surgery took place when he was initially diagnosed, but the tumor recurred in April 2024, necessitating a second operation.
Despite receiving treatment, Chebukati’s health continued to decline, and he was re-admitted to the hospital on February 12, 2025. He was moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he later suffered a fatal cardiac arrest.
The family dismissed rumors circulating on social media that Chebukati had been ‘clinically dead’ earlier, with Nyongesa clarifying, “At no time was the immediate family called upon and informed he was clinically dead.”
A post-mortem examination will be conducted as the family prepares for Chebukati’s burial on March 8, 2025, at his home in Sabata village near Kitale, Trans Nzoia County.
Chebukati, who served as the IEBC chairperson from 2017 to 2023, oversaw Kenya’s 2017 and 2022 general elections. Born on December 22, 1961, he attended Lenana High School before pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Law at the University of Nairobi.
Chebukati’s legacy as a key figure in Kenya’s electoral process will be remembered, with his contributions marking a significant chapter in the country’s democratic journey.