The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI), and InformAction extend their condolences to the family of the late IEBC chairperson, Wafula Chebukati, who passed away on February 20, 2025.
The loss of a loved one is a deeply painful and heartbreaking experience.
It is unfortunate that Chebukati left the political scene without accounting for electoral injustices and the deaths of IEBC staff and Kenyans that occurred during his unchecked tenure.
Chebukati’s contested term, along with that of Electrical Commission of Kenya (ECK) and other IEBC chairs and commissioners, poses a challenge to the current selection panel chaired by Nelson Makanda.
The panel is tasked with appointing a new chairperson and six commissioners who can withstand political pressure while upholding constitutionalism, the rule of law, and human rights in electoral governance. Elections are critical as they serve as the foundation of governance, determining the leadership responsible for managing the country’s affairs.
It is unfortunate that the repeated blunders and failures of the election management body have produced leaders with little commitment or integrity to serve the people, as envisioned in Article 73 of the constitution.
Moreover, contested elections have led to gross human rights violations, including injuries, loss of lives, and destruction of property, with no remedies for victims and no accountability for perpetrators.
We hope such issues will not be repeated in the 2027 general election and beyond. May those who paid the ultimate price in safeguarding our political democracy rest in power. Rest in peace, Chebukati.
