During the burial of former IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati on March 8, his daughter, Nekesa Chebukati, revealed a chilling assassination attempt on her father during the 2022 general elections.
Speaking emotionally at the ceremony, Nekesa disclosed that her father had received intelligence warning him that a powerful individual had ordered his murder to prevent him from declaring the election results. Despite knowing his life was in danger, he remained steadfast in his duty.
“Just before he left for Bomas to announce the results, he was aware that someone wanted to eliminate him. But he was determined to fulfill his mandate,” she recounted.
Before heading to the national tallying center, Nekesa and her father shared a prayer with a pastor. She assured him of her unwavering trust in his integrity and commitment to the truth. In an emotional moment, she noticed her father shedding a tear something she had never witnessed before realizing that it could have been their final goodbye.
As chaos erupted at Bomas after the announcement, Chebukati returned home visibly injured. Nekesa recalled, “His speech was so powerful that he later didn’t even remember delivering it. He came home bleeding but remained focused on his duty, taking pride in standing for the truth.”
Wafula Chebukati, who was appointed IEBC Chair by former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2017, oversaw both the 2017 and 2022 elections. He succumbed to brain cancer on February 20. His children Emmanuel, Jonathan, and Nekesa hailed him as a dedicated father whose wisdom and values they vowed to uphold.
