Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said that the next Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson should be a person of integrity.
Murkomen said the panel in search of a new IEBC chairperson should ensure they have the values that the former chairperson had.
Speaking on Friday, CS Murkomen said the next chairperson should not be somebody who has their own opinion, is unpatriotic and someone who does not pay attention to the needs of the nation.
"The panel responsible for the search for the next IEBC chairperson should look for the values that Chebukati had. We want someone who cannot be threatened by the government and opposition because the chairperson is the referee and must stand for the Constitution," Murkomen said.
"For us in the interior sector, the greatest threat to the security is when people do things that will divide Kenyans."
His sentiments come following the loss of former IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati.
The former IEBC boss was admitted to a hospital in Nairobi where he was undergoing treatment for nearly a week.
IEBC said that it has lost a great leader in former chairman Chebukati.
CEO Marjan Hussein said the IEBC family has lost a man who was full of humour and listened to detail on important issues that affected delivery in the Commission.
“The Commission is greatly saddened and mourns the untimely demise of its former Chairman Mr Wafula Wanyonyi Chebukati, EGH which occurred on Friday, 21st February 2025 at a Nairobi hospital."
“The IEBC family has lost a great leader who was full of humour, listened keenly on important issues affecting the delivery of the Commission mandate and a man measured in words, who truly understood the sensitivity of his office,” he said.
The CEO said Chebukati served diligently at the commission becoming the first holder of the office to serve for a full term, unlike previous holders.
“The Commission recounts with the rest of Kenyans, the good memories and acknowledge the impact that the Chairman had as he diligently served the office. He was appointed and assumed office on January 17, 2017, a position he held until January 17, 2023, becoming the first Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to complete the 6-year constitutional term.”
Marjan said the IEBC stands with the family as they go through this difficult time.
Chebukati served in the position of IEBC chair for a six-year tenure from January 2017, to January 18, 2023.
During his tenure, he managed to oversee three Kenyan elections: the 2017 Kenyan general election, the October 2017 Kenyan repeat presidential election and the 2022 Kenyan general election.
He was a lawyer with 37 years of experience and ran his sole proprietorship law firm for 20 years.
