Kenyan President William Ruto Friday confirmed the death of former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chairperson Wafula Chebukati.
He was 63.
In a statement Ruto described Chebukati’s death as a great loss to the country given his mammoth contribution to K.enyan life.
”Chebukati was a principled and diligent leader who served the nation with integrity. His death is a great loss to our country. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time” the Kenyan leader said.
The former IEBC chairperson oversaw the 2017 presidential election, the of which were subsequently overturned by the Kenyan Supreme Court due to irregularities. Then President Uhuru Kenyatta’s poll challenger Raila Odinga however boycotted a repeat election in protest over Chebukati’s role as arbiter.
Chebukati, a lawyer by profession ignored calls urging him to resign as IEBC chair in the wake of the court ruling.
Odinga said he and his team had no trust in Chebukati to oversee a free and fair election which Kenyatta won.
Chebukati was appointed in the role in 2017 six months before the election for a six-year contract which ended in 2023.
WN/as/APA