As Kenyans reflect on the legacy of former IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati following his passing, a throwback video has resurfaced, bringing back memories of the dramatic 2017 election saga.
The clip, which has since gone viral, captures a fiery Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) woman passionately warning Chebukati against proceeding with the controversial election rerun.
In the video, the woman, who identified herself as Adhiambo, visibly animated and gesturing wildly, vehemently protests the decision to conduct the repeat election on a day considered sacred by the SDA faithful.
With an authoritative voice, she declares that she and her fellow believers would not be returning to the ballot, adding that she had already witnessed a dismal voter turnout.
"Sasa Chebukati, mtu ya Seventh Day hapana jaribu, tafadhali, tafadhali, hapana jaribu Kenya, hapana weka kwa shimo" she went on an angry rant.
Her stance resonated with many supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga, who had earlier announced that he would not participate in the repeat election.
Many ODM loyalists echoed her sentiments, insisting that only Raila himself could convince them to reconsider voting.
The 2017 election remains one of Kenya's most contentious political moments. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) initially declared Uhuru Kenyatta the winner with 54.3% of the vote against Odinga's 44.7%.
However, Odinga challenged the results in court, leading to an unprecedented ruling by the Supreme Court of Kenya on September 1.
The court nullified the presidential election over what it termed "irregularities and illegalities," making Kenya the first African country to have an incumbent president's victory overturned by the judiciary.
Following the ruling, the IEBC was tasked with organizing a fresh election within 60 days.
Initially set for October 17, the rerun was later postponed to October 26 to allow for necessary adjustments.
However, the political climate remained deeply polarised, with many opposition supporters boycotting the process, citing concerns over fairness and credibility.
