Wafula Wanyonyi Chebukati
Chebukati in 2022
Born (1961-12-22) 22 December 1961 (age 62)
Bungoma County, Kenya
NationalityKenyan
CitizenshipKenya
Alma materUniversity of Nairobi
Bachelor of Law
Kenya School of Law
Post Graduate Diploma
JKUAT
Master of Business Administration
OccupationKenyan Lawyer
Known forCorporate Law, Commercial Law, Corporate Governance, Dispute Resolution
TitleFormer Chairperson, IEBC
PredecessorAhmed Issack Hassan
SpouseMary Chebukati Wanyonyi [1]

Wafula Wanyonyi Chebukati is a Kenyan lawyer and a former chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which is responsible for overseeing elections in Kenya. Wafula Chebukati was appointed to the position on a six-year tenure in January 2017[2][3] by the retired President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta. Following his appointment in 2017,[4][5] He succeeded[6][7] Ahmed Issack Hassan. He retired on 17th January 2023 following the end of his term.[8][9]

Career

Chebukati is a Kenyan lawyer with an interest in corporate governance. In 2006 he founded a Nairobi-based law firm Cootow & Associates Advocates. In 2017, he was accused of conflict of interest by fronting his law firm for contracts at the IEBC.[10][11]

He was a politician and member of Orange Democratic Movement.[12] In 2007, contested the Saboti Constituency parliamentary seat and lost to Eugene Wamalwa.[13]

In January 2017 he joined IEBC as Chair[14] and has so far overseen three elections: 2017 Kenyan general election, October 2017 Kenyan presidential election[15][16] and the 2022 Kenyan general election.[17][18]

On 17 January 2023 Chebukati, together with commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu, retired after their 6-year controversial term at the IEBC came to an end.[8][9]

Early life and education

He holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Nairobi,[19] and Master of Business Administration from the JKUAT. He is a member of LSK, Institute of Certified Secretaries, and ICJ.

References

  1. ^ "Chebukati's wife among first to appear for PSS interviews".
  2. ^ Capital FM, 18 Jan 2017 President Kenyatta Appoints Chebukati To Head IEBC
  3. ^ The Standard, 18 Jan 2017 Uhuru Kenyatta appoints Chebukati as new IEBC Chairman
  4. ^ Citizen Digital, 29 Dec 2016 Uhuru Nominates Chebukati As IEBC Chair
  5. ^ Nation, 30 Dec 2016 Uhuru nominates Wafula Chebukati to succeed Issack Hassan as IEBC boss
  6. ^ Standard, 20 Jan 2017 Issack Hassan hands over office to new IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati
  7. ^ The-Star, 20Jan 2017 Time up: Issack Hassan hands over to new IEBC boss Chebukati
  8. ^ a b "End of an era as Chebukati and two poll chiefs exit IEBC". Nation. 2023-01-08. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  9. ^ a b Nyarangi, Edwin. "Which way IEBC? Chebukati, Guliye set to retire and commissioners wanted out". The Standard. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  10. ^ "Law firm linked to Chebukati got IEBC tenders for petitions". Nation. 2020-06-28. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  11. ^ Nyamori, Moses. "Chebukati awarded his firm, fronted others for contracts, claims Chiloba". The Standard. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  12. ^ Nation, 10 Jan 2017 I resigned from ODM, IEBC boss-nominee Wafula Chebukati says
  13. ^ Ayaga, Wilfred. "I last met Raila in 2007, IEBC chairman nominee tells MPs". The Standard. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  14. ^ The-Star, 20 Jan 2017 Chebukati, commissioners sworn in to head IEBC
  15. ^ Standard, 30 Oct 2017 Kenyans react after Chebukati declares Uhuru winner
  16. ^ KBC, 30 Oct 2017 IEBC Chair Chebukati declares Uhuru Kenyatta President-elect
  17. ^ The-Star, 16 Aug 2022 Big split in IEBC as Chebukati declares Ruto president-elect
  18. ^ Capital FM, 2 Sep 2022 Chebukati Defends Executive Powers In Declaring Ruto President-Elect
  19. ^ Mpasho, 15 Aug 2022 10 things you didn't know about Wafula Chebukati
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