Mary Chebukati, the wife of former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson Wafula Chebukati, has opened up about her family’s harsh treatment on social media.
Speaking during her husband’s funeral service in Sabata village, Kiminini Constituency, on Saturday, March 8, 2025, she recalled how fake news reports about his health had caused distress in their home.
She revealed that she frequently received frantic calls from concerned friends and relatives asking if her husband had passed away due to false reports circulating online.
Mary expressed her frustration with social media, stating that it had brought family pain and distress over the years.
“The only thing social media gave me was a daughter. It’s the only positive thing social media has done for us. The other times, they have bashed us, attacked us. The only thing the chairman said to us was to ignore them. They have killed him so many times. Every time I get so many calls coming in, I know social media has killed my husband. So I go to cutting off sayings he’s okay… so they are like thank God. What is this we have read?” she noted.
She recalled how her husband always urged the family to ignore online attacks. Despite multiple instances where false death reports spread about him, Wafula Chebukati remained unfazed and encouraged his loved ones to do the same.
Mary also shared how her surname became a topic of discussion, especially in public spaces. Initially, she operated under her maiden name, Wanyonyi, but some people wrongly assumed she was hiding her connection to Chebukati. She even encountered questions about this during her vetting process, with an MP asking why she wasn’t using her husband’s name.
Reflecting on her late husband’s protective nature, Mary said he always reassured them not to engage with social media negativity. Now that he has passed away, she hopes their family will finally find peace.
“Social media has not been fair to us. Now that he has rested, I hope they will give us some peace. It has been so difficult. Initially, I didn’t have it as rough since I used to trade under Wanyonyi. But social media thought I was hiding the name Chebukati. Even when I went for vetting, an MP asked why I was hiding your name. Even the chair of the committee made a joke and said, This lady has two names of her husband and he asked how many ladies here are carrying even one name of their husbands. He has protected us; he told us, ‘wachana na social media,’” Mary Wanyonyi added.
Chebukati’s death
Chebukati passed away on Friday, February 21, 2025, while undergoing treatment at a Nairobi hospital. Although the exact cause of his death has not been disclosed, reports indicate that he had been receiving medical care at home before his condition worsened, leading to his admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
He served as the chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) from January 2017 to January 2023, a tenure that was defined by both controversy. One of his most challenging moments came during the 2017 general elections when the Supreme Court of Kenya nullified the presidential results due to irregularities, a landmark ruling in the country’s history.
The IEBC organized a repeat election on October 26, 2017. However, opposition leader Raila Odinga, along with his National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition, opted out of the race, citing concerns over the credibility of the process.
Chebukati once again found himself at the center of political tensions in 2022 when he oversaw another high-stakes election. The results declared President William Ruto as the winner, a decision that sparked heated debates and legal battles.