Nairobi: Kenyans on Saturday turned up in large numbers to witness the final journey of former IEBC boss Wafula Wanyonyi Chebukati at his Sabata home in Kiminini Sub County. In what was expected to be an avenue of high-octane politics, speaker after speaker paid tribute to the fallen former IEBC Chair, terming him an honest person who served the country with diligence, respect and integrity.
According to Kenya News Agency, leading the tributes was the Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi who described Chebukati as a true servant of the people who could not be compromised. The Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula described Chebukati as an honest leader who served with fidelity to the law and the Constitution and who would go into history books as the first Chair to oversee presidential elections three times.
'With the divided IEBC of 2022, not many would have managed to deliver a credible exercise under pressure the way Chebukati did,' Wetangula said. His Senate counterpart Amason Kingi hailed Chebukati as a role model in the legal industry who only talked when it was necessary. Kingi said Kenya has lost a great leader who was loved and appreciated across the continent and whose name would not miss when the history books of the country are written.
The Leader of Majority in the Senate Aaron Cheruiyot described Chebukati as a man who served the nation with dedication and determination who stood for nothing but the truth. He said Chebukati set an example in service delivery which the rest of Kenyans should emulate when called upon. Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya said Chebukati was a hero who believed in his stand and did his work with due diligence.
The wife of the former IEBC chairman, Mary Chebukati, who is also the Chairperson of the Commission on Revenue Allocation, described the deceased as a generous person who always wanted the best for his family. However, she bemoaned the negative impact social media has had on the family stemming from the controversial August 2022 elections. The father to the deceased Wafula Chebukati Senior and mother Joyinah Wafula termed their son as a tough and good person who always wanted the best in life.
The late Wafula Chebukati has left behind one wife and three children: Jonathan, Emmanuel and Racheal. Legislators present were Kakai Bisau (Kiminini), Majimbo Kalasinga (Kabuchai), Patrick Simiyu (Cherengany), Ferdinand Wanyonyi (Kwanza), Peter Salaysa (Mumias East), Elijah Njoroge (Gatundu North), Oscar Sudi (Kapsaret), and Didmus Wekesa Barasa (Kimilili). Senators Allan Sang (Trans Nzoia), Wafula Wakoli (Bungoma), Isa Juma (Kwale) and Godfrey Osotsi (Vihiga) were also in attendance together with governors Jonathan Bii (Uasin Gishu) and Ken Lusaka (Bungoma).
Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa, Permanent Secretaries Raymond Omollo (Ministry of Interior and National Administration) and Prof. Edward Kisiangani (Broadcasting and Telecommunications) were also present. Political leaders who turned up followed the strict guidelines which had been issued by government prior to the burial where political regalia had been banned. While issuing the guidelines, Trans Nzoia County Commissioner Gideon Oyagi had barred usage of any form of political regalia by politicians and their supporters, and further urged refrain from political utterances.