Wafula Chebukati’s tenure as chairman of Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) stands as a monument to electoral fraud, institutional decay, and national betrayal. His tenure, which began in 2017, ushered in an era of political instability and state-sanctioned repression that continues to plague the nation. His death has not been met with mourning by many Kenyans but rather with raw and unfiltered relief, a testament to the depth of anger and pain his actions inflicted on the country.
Under Chebukati’s leadership, elections ceased to be democratic exercises and instead became carefully orchestrated charades to maintain a corrupt elite in power. His systematic subversion of the people’s will has led to economic ruin, increased political repression, and widespread suffering. Kenya’s democratic fabric has been shredded, and at the heart of this collapse is one man: Wafula Chebukati.
The 2017 Electoral Debacle: A Stolen Mandate
Chebukati’s first major test as IEBC chairman came in the form of the 2017 general elections, an event that will forever stain Kenya’s history. In an unprecedented move, the Supreme Court nullified the presidential election, citing massive irregularities and illegalities. This ruling should have ended Chebukati’s career in disgrace, but instead, he was allowed to oversee a repeat election that lacked legitimacy from the outset.
The IEBC, under his command, failed to conduct a transparent and credible election. Key election documents lacked security features, unauthorized individuals gained access to the electoral servers, and the electronic transmission of results was manipulated. Even more damning was the unsolved murder of Chris Msando, the commission’s IT head, whose brutal assassination conveniently preceded the compromised election.
The 2017 election rerun, boycotted by opposition leader Raila Odinga, further exposed Chebukati’s role in legitimizing electoral fraud. Over 100 Kenyans lost their lives in post-election violence, victims of a system that Chebukati helped entrench. His actions did not just rob Kenyans of their democratic right; they paved the way for unchecked state brutality and oppression.
The 2022 Election: A Shameless Repeat of History
One might have expected Chebukati to redeem himself in the 2022 election, but he instead doubled down on impunity. Despite an already fractured commission, he single-handedly declared William Ruto as the winner, disregarding objections from four commissioners who disowned the results due to glaring mathematical inconsistencies. The so-called “Cherera Four” exposed the fraud at the heart of Chebukati’s process, pointing to discrepancies that made the entire electoral exercise illegitimate.
The Supreme Court, despite upholding Ruto’s victory, noted Chebukati’s unconstitutional overreach. His unilateral announcement of results, without involving all commissioners, violated the very principles of electoral integrity. His role as a “sole returning officer” was not only illegal but also demonstrated his willingness to sacrifice national stability for personal and political gain.
Ruto’s rise to power, facilitated by Chebukati, has since been marked by state-sanctioned violence, enforced disappearances, and economic strangulation of the citizenry. The cost of Chebukati’s betrayal is not merely political; it is being paid daily by Kenyans struggling under a regime that thrives on suppression and exploitation.
A Legacy of Bloodshed and Institutional Collapse
Beyond the electoral fraud, Chebukati’s tenure was characterized by an imploding IEBC. In 2018, commissioners resigned en masse, citing his incompetence and failure to provide leadership. By the 2022 election, the commission was nothing more than a fractured, untrustworthy institution.
Under his watch, electoral officials faced mysterious deaths and abductions. The most notable was the suspicious killing of returning officer Daniel Musyoka, a grim reminder of how deeply entrenched electoral malpractices had become. These incidents sent a clear message: dissent within the IEBC was met with lethal consequences.
Chebukati’s failure to secure justice for his murdered colleagues further cemented the perception that he was either complicit or grossly negligent. His tenure did not just weaken the electoral commission; it destroyed any remaining faith Kenyans had in democratic processes.
The Pain He Leaves Behind: Kenyans Speak
Chebukati’s passing has reignited discussions about his role in Kenya’s suffering. On social media, young Kenyans have expressed raw and unfiltered jubilation, not out of malice but out of deep-seated frustration and anguish. His name has become synonymous with betrayal, a scar on the conscience of the nation. His role in entrenching an illegitimate regime has resulted in skyrocketing inflation, unemployment, and rampant police brutality.
The anger directed at him is not just about stolen elections. It is about the ruined lives, the disappeared activists, and the parents mourning their children lost in election-related violence. His legacy is not one of democracy but of electoral banditry and institutionalized fraud.
Chebukati; A Symbol of Democratic Backsliding
Wafula Chebukati will be remembered not as a patriot, but as a symbol of Kenya’s democratic backsliding. His tenure institutionalized electoral theft, delegitimized the IEBC, and paved the way for a regime that continues to suffocate dissent and economic progress.
For Kenya to move forward, Chebukati’s legacy must be thoroughly dismantled. Electoral integrity must be restored, the IEBC must be overhauled, and those responsible for democratic subversion must be held to account. The pain he caused Kenyans cannot be undone, but it must serve as a reminder that democracy is fragile and that figures like Chebukati are the enemies of progress.
History will not absolve him. And neither will the people of Kenya.
Okoth Osewe
KenyaStockholm.Com
About the Author
Thanks for this insightful analysis for it teaches all of us that what we do live long in the memories of others after we are dead and buried. Wafula Chebukati deliberately, and with full knowledge made the wrong decisions that led to death of ordinary civilians. It is difficult to mourn him knowing that he had the power and opportunity to make the correct decision. May he be a lesson to some cantankerous politicians and public civil servants.