Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati died on February 20 while receiving treatment in Nairobi.
Often soft-spoken, Chebukati steered at the helm of the hottest seat among the public posts for six years and presided over two of the most controversial presidential elections.
He is set to be buried on Saturday, March 8, in his Sapata farm (Matunda) in Kiminini constituency, Trans Nzoia County.
Leaders who attended the church service preceding Chebukati's sendoff asked Kenyans to accord him the respect he deserves as the nation bids farewell to a national hero.
Bungoma governor Kenneth Lusaka observed that Kenyans never appreciated the kind of tension the deceased former IEBC chairman was able to calm down in 2022 at the height of the tension around the presidential results.
"Those who are badmouthing this gentleman don't know how Chebukati made a Solomonic rule. we had a winner and someone who wanted a forced win, but this man stood firm," said Lusaka.
National Assembly speaker Moses Wetang'ula, while eulogising Chebukati, said that the nation has lost a diligent and straightforward person who cherished and believed in transparency.
"I have got a chance to speak here, and tomorrow I'll also have a chance to speak because I am part of this family. I want to thank Chebukati because he's the only chair who presided over three presidential elections, and despite the tension that we witnessed, he managed to deliver all three elections," Wetang'ula said.
Wetang'ula further added that despite his tribal ties with Chebukati, he chaired the 2017 elections and announced former president Uhuru Kenyatta as the president, while Wetang'ula and Cord Allaince were defeated.
"If Chebukati was easily swayed, he could deliver the 2017 elections to us in opposition because he was my relative, but he did not. He stood firm the same way we witnessed in 2022," he added.
On his part, Saboti MP Caleb Amisi eulogised Chebukati as a man who only spoke his word and stood by it.
"Chebukati once told us it's difficult to manipulate an election that is manned by six agents. Therefore, this should be the last IEBC Chair to go through what he's gone through," said Amisi
Source: TUKO.co.ke
