Chebukati, Aukot trade barbs as 2022 Presidential Election politics re-surface

Former IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati and former presidential aspirant Dr. Ekuru Aukot have traded barbs online regarding the 2022 General Election.

It all started when Chebukati took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to perhaps blow his own trumpet.

“In August 2022, Kenya held its freest, fairest and most credible election in its history. I recently presented a paper titled “Role of Technology in Improving the Integrity of the Electoral Process in Kenya”. This video introduces the last mile test as key to achieving this feat,” Chebukati made a tweet, accompanied with a video of the said presentation.

The former electoral agency boss went on to categorically state that 99.9% of Presidential Result Forms (Forms 34 As) were electronically transmitted to the IEBC public portal within 24 hours of the closure of polls.

Former IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati says he oversaw the “freest, fairest and credible” election in Kenya’s history in August 2022.

– ‘You are a fake!’ –

But this did not sit well with Aukot, who is still reeling from the heartache of being blocked by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) from vying for the country’s highest seat in August 2022.

“You’re fake. The nomination process was choreographed. You couldn’t understand basic constitutional provisions. You were biased to most of the candidates. When history is properly written, you will be named as the worst chairman of IEBC. After all, you were not even the best during the interviews,” Aukot blasted Chebukati.

On the other hand, Constitutional Lawyer Dr. Ekuru Aukot says that Wafula Chebukati is the worst IEBC chairperson so far. “At least the late (Samuel) Kivuitu later confessed that he didn’t know who won the [2007 Presidential] election.

– Chebukati’s rebuttal –

In a quick rebuttal, Chebukati told off Aukot, insisting that he did not meet the requirements to vie as a presidential candidate.

Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi waded into the emotive discussion, outrightly defending Chebukati.

“Counsel, you and the Commission did an amazing job. IEBC is the global benchmark on how elections should be conducted, especially in this part of the world. Wachana na few misguided habitual noisemakers like Daktari (Aukot),” he opined.

Aukot in turn launched a scathing attack on Ahmednasir, reminding him of how the Supreme Court in 2017 nullified then-President Uhuru Kenyatta’s election win. The lawyer was presenting Kenyatta in that petition.

“Grand Mullah (Ahmednasir)! You’re forgetting so soon. Do you recall how Wafula Chebukati sent you into depression in 2017 when the Supreme Court nullified your client’s election? Wacha jokes and don’t be expedient.”