The jinx at the electoral body  

It’s unclear if this is a curse or not placed on people who have chaired Kenya’s electoral bodies, the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) or the defunct Election Commission of Kenya (ECK).

The demise of the former IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati rekindles what the former chairpersons of the electoral body in Kenya have undergone.

The death reminds the public what befell Justice Zacchaeus Chesoni, who equally died mysteriously, at the Nairobi Hospital weeks after being admitted for gout.

Chesoni served as the chair of the ECK from 1991 to 1997 until he was appointed the Chief Justice of Kenya. At the time of his death, he was serving as the CJ and had just served in the position for nearly 2 years – which was slightly less than 2 years, 7 months and 23 days that his predecessor Samuel Kivuitu took out to be recalled to heaven.

Chebukati took 2 years, seven months and 23 days to be recalled by the maker after being out of the electoral body in Kenya.

Although Chebukati is hailed for serving his full two-year term as required by law, he was the first chair of the electoral body in Kenya to have been indicted by the Supreme Court.

Led by Justice (retired) David Maraga, the Supreme Court in 20217 threw out the August 8, 2017 presidential results conducted by Chebukati saying it was marred with malpractices and demanded a new election within 60-days.

“The declaration [of Kenyatta’s win] is invalid, null, and void,” said Judge David Maraga, announcing the verdict of four out of the six judges. No presidential election in Kenya has ever been nullified before.

In the ruling, Justice Maraga found that the election won by Uhuru Kenyatta against Raila Odinga had been marred by irregularities and illegalities by the IEBC.

Chebukati held two elections in 2017 and 2022 – all, which were marred with claims of rigging. However, despite calls to see Chebukati resigns in 2017, he resisted until his term ended in February 2023.

Chebukati high handedness was disproportionately high. A look at the way the three commissioners led by Consolata Maina, Paul Kurgat and Margret Mwachanya and Ezra Chiluba were bundled out of office.

Nevertheless, Chebukati’s attempt to push out the four commissioners – Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Irene Masit, and Justus Nyang’aya for disowning 2022 is what shocked Kenyans.

According to Chebukati, Ezra Chiloba was fired as CEO after being found culpable for committing procurement irregularities during the 2017 general elections.

Chebukati stated in a statement that Chiloba was found to have violated sections of his contractual obligations.

“In tandem with fair administrative action, the Commission subsequently invited Chiloba to appear before the Disciplinary Committee so as to provide responses to the charges levelled against him. He, however, twice failed to honour the summons,” Chebukati said.

“Chiloba’s gross misconduct, breach, and violation of the Commission’s Human Resource and Administration policies as well as other relevant legislation left the Commission with no option other than to terminate his employment contract,” he said.

Kivuitu, who succeeded Chesoni as the ECK chairperson, only took 2 years, 7 months 23 days – a day less than what Chebukati took to succumb to his ailment.

The only person who escaped what Chesoni underwent is Issack Hassan who took over from Kivuitu as Kenya electoral body chairperson. The late Justice Chesoni death has not yet been concluded many years after he was laid to rest.

Hassan was also removed after the ODM party complained bitterly against him and his commission at IEBC.