Chebukati was incorruptible, says Ruto as Chebukati is laid to rest

President William Ruto (centre) accompanied by Kenya Kwanza leaders during the burial of former IEBC Chairman Wanyonyi Wafula Chebukati at Sabata village in Trans Nzoia County yesterday. March 8, 2025. [Peter Ochieng, Standard] President William Ruto said Saturday the late former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Wafula Chebukati was incorruptible. Chebukati, who died in Nairobi on February 20 after battling brain tumor, was buried yesterday in Sabata, Kimini constituency, Trans Nzoia County. Ruto told mourners that Chebukati was a hero who never bowed to intimidations at the height of the last General Election. The anxious moments that rocked the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi moments before the declaration of Presidential election results were rekindled as the former IEBC chairman was laid to rest. Songs and moving tributes were used to send him off in his village home. In the sombre mood, the late Chebukati was eulogized as an accomplished lawyer, described by his family as meticulous, bold and honest. Speakers at his burial described the late Chebukati as Chairman. Through the lens of his daughter Rachel Nekesa Chebukati, the life and times of the former IEBC chairman were demistified. The tense moments in the runup to the announcement of the results of the last Presidential poll on August 15, 2022 played out. Rachel said days to the 2022 general election were the most difficult moment for her father. She said her father cried as pressure mounted on him to resign as IEBC Chairman. "He feared for his life. Days to the declaration of the presidential results, and it was my first time to see my father cry. My father shed tears," Rachel said as she eulogised her late father. The daughter, who is also a lawyer, went on to tell mourners: "There were calls for him to resign and I asked him to resign just for us. "I was with him before he announced the results and he said he had received intelligence that someone wanted to end his life." Rachel said her father instilled in his family integrity and high moral morals. She added: "He always made our family name a brand. Many people said he spoke little but at home, my dad talked a lot and would make you laugh at the most ridiculous jokes you could believe. His illness made me slow down my activities. He was my best friend." Chebukati's wife Mary Wanyonyi, said August 15, 2022 remained Chebukati's most difficult day. She recalled Bishops, led by Jackson Ole Sapit of ACK calming the family the moment presidential election results were about to be announced. "When he (Chebukati) was trying to leave the house for Bomas, he couldn't. He received about five calls and he said he didn't want the calls," the widow said Ms Wanyonyi, who is the chairperson of Commission for Revenue Allocation (CRA), added: "I asked him to allow the clergy to come home and they arrived in five minutes. The clergy prayed and I offered them tea to delay them to give Chebukati time to dress. Later, the clergy left for Bomas and Chebukati was in it." She said there was a time her late husband came home and told her that someone had printed a gun at him. Chebukati's sons Jonathan and Emmanuel, in moving tributes, said they would miss playing golf with the former IEBC chairman. Ruto led political leaders in eulogizing the former IEBC chairman, describing the late Chebukati as a courageous individual. He said Chebukati will be remembered for standing firm under immense pressure at the Bomas of Kenya before the declaration of presidential election results. "Powerful people went to Bomas to try to change the outcome of the election with might and power but Chebukati chose to do the right thing. He has set the bar for our electoral systems very high. Many people today may have to think twice before applying for the position of IEBC chairman. In his honor, Ruto directed that Sabata Secondary School and ICT centre be upgraded and renamed after Chebukati. "Chebukati discharged his responsibility with great distinction. When the history of the country is written, he will not be a footnote or a paragraph or a chapter, there will be a whole book about him," Ruto said. He added: "He was intelligent and he could not be confused. He was courageous and he could be blackmailed and threatened. He brought up a great family. A man will be measured by the family he brings up."

Chebukati was incorruptible, says Ruto as Chebukati is laid to rest

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Chebukati was incorruptible, says Ruto as Chebukati is laid to rest

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