A sombre mood gripped the family of the late former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson, Wafula Chebukati, as they viewed his body for the last time.

The family was visibly engulfed in thought as they paid their last respects at the Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi before a memorial service at Citam Church in Karen on March 5.

As family members stood in grief, Chebukati's daughter, Rachel, momentarily looked at his body, her face briefly lighting up with a smile, possibly reflecting on the beautiful memories they shared.

In the video shared on social media, Rachel, alongside her youngest brother, Emmanuel, can be seen looking into the casket before whispering some words to each other.

Emmanuel is then seen holding onto his sister as they walk away.

A previously bereaved Kenyan, Mercy Kwamboka, toldthat it is normal for one to smile in such instances.

“When one is in pain sometimes you are not in control of your emotions. Maybe she was smiling but emotions tend to vary. May they find comfort in the fact that he is in a better place," Kwamboka explained.

Some Kenyans opined that the smile was one to hide Rachel's pain.

Maurine Nyaminya:

"May God comfort them.. the pain of losing a parent is unbearable. Whether he was evil or not....that smile is full of sorrow."

Samuel Mate:

"Kenyans might see her looking glad facially but inwardly it's terrible she knows how to control her moods however sombre the situation seem to be."

Rebecca Kinyua:

"Labda ako depressed it's not normal."

Chirry Samm:

"Huyo bdo ako in disbelief, wait after burial is when itamuingia Kwa hakili proper 💔😭."

Chebukati passed away on Thursday, February 20, while receiving treatment at Nairobi Hospital.

The former IEBC boss had been in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for almost a week before his passing.

Initially treated at home, Chebukati was later hospitalised at Nairobi Hospital due to a worsening condition, where he eventually succumbed.

According to his family, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2024 and underwent two successful surgeries before the condition began to take a toll on him earlier in the year.

During Chebukati's memorial, his youngest son, Emmanuel, wowed mourners after reading his father's eulogy.

The story of how Chebukati and Mary met was detailed in the eulogy. The two met in Mombasa in the 1980s where Mary was attending a training organised by the ministry of finance.

They then started dating but took him several years to propose to the beautiful Mary. They then tied the knot on April 21, 1990 in a white wedding at Mariakani Christian Centre. The mother of three revealed that her other name, Wanyonyi, belongs to Chebukati.

In her tribute, Mary described her husband as a loving husband.

She recalled how her father and pastor were worried she would end up in a polygamous marriage considering that Chebukati was a Bukusu and polygamy in his culture is normal.

In other news, Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi visited Chebukati's Karen home and met up with his widow, Mary Wanyonyi.

Mary and her late husband loved and adored each other when he was still alive, and he pampered her with love when she got a government job.

Mary looked strong as she entertained guests who visited with the Prime CS. She was in the company of her youngest son, Emmanuel.

Mudavadi urged Kenyans to respect the family during their moment of sorrow.

He hailed the late Chebukati for being a man of integrity.

Source: TUKO.co.ke