The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) won the Electoral Management Award during the 19th International Electoral Affairs Awards held in Portugal.
Former IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati made the announcement on Thursday, November 11 expressing his delight with the recognition.
In a statement seen by The Kenya Times, the retired IEBC Chief also announced that the commission came in second in the Electoral Ergonomic category.
“Congratulations IEBC Kenya for winning the Election Management Award and coming in Runner’s Up position for the Election Ergonomic Award at the 19th International Electoral Affairs Award Ceremony held at Crowne Plaza, Portugal, last night,” Chebukati announced.
The awards ceremony brought together more than 200 participants representing electoral commissions from across the world.
Chebukati’s Keynote Presentation
Chebukati was one of the keynote speakers selected to address the conference on various topics regarding elections in the world.
In addition, non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other multinational bodies involved in campaigns championing democracy and fair elections were also present.
In a statement on Wednesday, November 15, Chebukati announced that he had made a presentation titled “Kenya 2022 Election Success Story: Leveraging Technology for Increased Election Integrity”.
Also Read: Chebukati Refuses to Appear Before Dialogue Team
According to him, the presentation highlighted the successes registered in the 2022 polls which he noted was the most successful in Kenya’s history.
“I spoke about the use and impact of technology in Kenyan elections, reflected on lessons learned from the 2017 General Election, and explained how we leveraged technology for the 2022 General Election – the most transparent election in Kenya’s history,” he announced.
Chebukati also projected a video recorded during the chaos witnessed at the Bomas of Kenya in the run up to the declaration of the winner in the presidential election.
The video, he noted, was meant to trigger the question on how electoral commissions could use technology in a bid to end electoral impunity.
The former IEBC chairman left the electoral commission in January 2023 after seven years at the helm of the body.
Also Read: Chebukati Praises 2022 Election Results, Again
Chebukati’s Record at IEBC
During his tenure, Chebukati presided over two general elections in 2017 and 2022.
However, he has repeatedly defended his time at the commission saying that the electoral body conducted the most transparent elections in the 2022 polls.
United States Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman also gave the August 2022 election a clean bill of health- noting that it had spearheaded an orderly and peaceful election.
In the run-up to his exit- Chebukati announced he was contented with his performance and achievement in the commission.
He further added that he led his fellow commissioners in withstanding external pressures that threatened the existence of the commission.
