"He saw a gun pointed at him", Chebukati’s family reveals how 40 clerics prayed for his safety during elections

Guns, threats and divine intervention—these were the realities the late former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati faced in the tense days leading up to the 2022 presidential election results.

As mourners gathered in Saboti, Trans Nzoia County on Saturday, his family disclosed how he feared for his life, narrowly escaped assassination and relied on 40 clerics who camped at his home to offer prayers amid mounting threats.

Speaking during his burial, Chebukati’s widow, Mary Chebukati, recounted how he narrowly escaped assassination attempts at the Bomas of Kenya and the emotional turmoil their family endured.

She disclosed that her husband confided in her about the threats to his life during the tense moments at Bomas, where the presidential results were being tallied and announced.

"He told me he saw someone point a gun at him when chaos erupted at Bomas, and it terrified him," she said.

She further revealed that due to fears over his safety, Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit mobilised over 40 religious leaders who camped at their home to pray for him before he announced the election results.

"There was a lot of fear and anxiety among family members when I could not reach him on the phone as the fracas escalated at Bomas. I was concerned for his security, and it was the most trying moment for the family," she added.

Mary said that at the peak of the crisis, she managed to reach Bishop David Oginde, the former Christ is The Answer Ministries (CITAM) head and current chairman of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, who assured her of Chebukati’s safety.

She also recounted the intimidation and threats the family received during the delayed announcement of the contested presidential election results.

"Some people were making calls accusing my husband of plans to alter the election results and warned that it could be very dangerous for us as a family," she recalled.

Mary further noted that Chebukati was no stranger to election disputes, citing his own experience in 2007 when he contested the Saboti parliamentary seat on an ODM ticket.

"My husband was dissatisfied with the election results, which we believed were rigged, and we had plans to file a petition. However, our home was attacked, the documents were stolen, and we could not proceed with the case," she said.

The couple’s daughter, Rachel Chebukati, echoed the assassination claims, saying her father informed her that he had received intelligence reports warning that his life was in danger.

"My dad told me he had intelligence that someone was after his life, and he was very disturbed. That was the first time I saw my father shed tears," she said, remembering him as a caring and loving father.

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Injured

She also recounted how Chebukati returned home injured after announcing the election results.

"After Bomas, my father came back home bleeding from his leg, but he was not aware of what had happened to him," she revealed.

Mary Chebukati took issue with the relentless attacks her family faced on social media, saying they were forced to withdraw from many aspects of their social life.

"They killed him so many times on social media, and that has not been fair to us. Now that he has rested, I hope they are going to give us a break and share the great tributes that have been said today during his send-off," she lamented.

She urged Kenyans to focus on the positive legacy her husband left behind rather than continue with online criticism.

"If there is anybody who still wants to talk about him, let them talk about the beautiful tributes that have been shared today on this podium," she added.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula also spoke at the burial, recalling how Chebukati had forgiven those who attacked him during the election period.

"The late Chebukati declined my request to have him launch formal complaints about his attackers, who were well known, and to have legal action instituted against them. Indeed, this was a man of his own principles," Wetang’ula said.

Other leaders present at the burial including President William Ruto praised Chebukati as a democrat who upheld the integrity of the electoral process despite immense pressure. Chebukati was appointed the IEBC chairman by former President Uhuru Kenyatta in January 2017 and oversaw both the 2017 and 2022 general elections.

He passed away on February 20, 2025, after battling brain cancer.