Lusaka hails Chebukati’s role in Kenya’s electoral reforms
By Luke Oluoch, December 22, 2025The former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman, Wafula Chebukati, has been lauded for his efforts to implement vital reforms in Kenya’s electoral system.
In an interview with a local radio station on Monday, December 22, Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka pointed to reforms undertaken during Chebukati’s tenure as the basis of the current electoral system.
Nearly foolproof
According to Lusaka, the current electoral system is nearly foolproof and not subject to manipulation, thanks to its technological backup that ensures high levels of transparency.
“I had a conversation with [Wafula] Chebukati—may God rest his soul in peace—and he told me that if there was one thing he had left Kenyans, it was a watertight electoral system,” he stated.
The governor made the remarks as he downplayed opposition claims of vote rigging during the by-election concluded on November 27 across Kenya.
“What I can say is that it is impossible now to steal an election. From the moment votes are cast in polling stations in the presence of agents, the information is relayed immediately by people armed with smartphones,” he said.
The governor stated that voter bribery remains the only avenue through which politicians could influence the elections.
“Now you can only bribe people, but once they reach the ballot, it’s done—you cannot alter or manipulate the results.”
His remarks mirror those made by the commission chair, Erastus Ethekon, who asserted that it is now impossible to manipulate or steal elections in the country.
Speaking on Tuesday, December 8, 2025, Ethekon urged politicians to embrace that reality and focus on their campaigns rather than engaging in desperate acts to gain illegitimate victories.
Impossibility
“It is high time politicians learned that to steal elections in this country is an impossibility. The returning officer observes, and the media can tell you it is impossible. Where will you get the chance to put in your votes before all the observers and the media present?” he said.
The chair also warned against attempts to exert undue influence on electoral officials heading to the 2027 polls.
“If you know you have done your campaign well and you’re confident, why do you want to threaten our officials and returning officers? That is seeking to secure an illegitimate victory,” he posited.