• The Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (EGH), is the highest civilian honour in Kenya.
• Chebukati stood his ground and declared Ruto the winner of the presidential contest on August 15 amid chaos at the Bomas of Kenya.
Image: STATE HOUSE
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati's son Emmanuel has congratulated him on the award of Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart, EGH.
President William Ruto conferred the award to the outgoing Independent Electoral and Boundaries boss during Jamhuri Day celebrations in recognition of his "distinguished and outstanding services rendered to the nation".
His son said in a tweet shortly after the event that his father deserved the honours owing to his service at the helm of the controversy-riddled electoral agency.
"After six years at the helm of Kenya's electoral body, his is a story of "blood, toil, tears, and sweat" to do the right thing at all costs. Well deserved, dad!," Emmanuel said, to which Chebukati said, "Thank you son".
The Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (EGH), is the highest civilian commendation in Kenya.
Chebukati was feted alongside commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye who were conferred with the Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (EBS), the second civilian honour in the country.
The three officials will exit the office at the end of January 2023 and pave way for the appointment of a new set of commissioners.
During his augurating speech on September 13, Ruto congratulated Chebukati for doing the right thing under exceptionally challenging circumstances.
This was after four commissioners openly and sharply differed with Chebukati over the final presidential results saying the last phase of their verification was opaque.
Chebukati, however, stood his ground and declared Ruto the winner of the presidential contest on August 15 amid chaos at the Bomas of Kenya.
"It is appropriate to single out for special mention the chair of the IEBC Wafula Chebukati for standing firm, resisting bribery, resisting intimidation and resisting blackmail and doing the right thing," Ruto said.
Despite the sudden turn of events at the Bomas of Kenya, Chebukati stood his ground and declared the results, something he admitted took courage.
The IEBC chair said despite the intimidation and arbitrary arrest of some of his staff, he had "a constitutional duty to perform and that is why I stand before you despite the intimidation".
"It's not been an easy journey, right now two of my commissioners and the CEO are injured and they are being treated," Chebukati said shortly before he announced Ruto the winner.
Three of the four dissenting commissioners; chairperson Juliana Cherera, Justus Nyang'aya and Francis Wanderi have since resigned amid an ongoing Tribunal hearing about their conduct over the August 9 polls.
Irene Masit has remained put and challenged her removal from office via the Tribunal which is set to start hearings on December 20 after the determination of her case.
The other three commissioners are ordinarily not subject to the tribunal following their exit from office although tribunal chairman Justice Aggrey Muchelule said each will be tried individually.
Chebukati has been lined up to testify against them.