Former Independent
Electoral Boundary Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Wafula Chebukati was to live for six months upon
being diagnosed with glioblastoma, according to the estimations of
medics and information regarding the cancer he was suffering from.
His wife, Mary Chebukati, disclosed that despite the medics giving him six months to live, Chebukati was able to survive for nearly two years, thanks to the support he received from family and friends.
Glioblastoma, also known as GBM, is a fast-growing and aggressive brain cancer that can also affect the spinal cord. It's the most common type of brain cancer in adults.
But speaking
during Chebukati's burial at Kiminini in Trans Nzoia County on Saturday,
Mary shared that despite the chairman’s prolonged illness, several factors
contributed to his longevity and resilience.
She
attributed her family, her children, Jonathan, Rachel and Emmanuel, as one of
the reasons Chebukati lived longer.
She
added that regular visits to their father, in addition to support from his
medical team and a section of leaders, went a long way towards his resilience
and expressed
gratitude towards them through the difficult moment.
“These children of mine you see here are the force behind chairman’s long
stay,” she said.
"If you go and google
glioblastoma, it’s four to six months; chairman did 21 months, and that is
because of the support.’’
She further revealed that the
medical specialists linked the chairman’s resilience to the immense backup from
home he had, which surprised them as well.
Mary disclosed that the
doctors informed her that the support he received made the former chairman
stand out from other patients and sustain a longer life.
She extended her appreciation
to President William Ruto and other political and religious leaders,
acknowledging the role they played in enhancing Chebukati’s battle with cancer.
Her
sentiments were also echoed by Chebukati’s daughter, Rachel Chebukati, who
reminisced how he persisted in his fight despite his medical specialists
estimating a shorter stay of a few months.
“He
was given four to six months to live, that’s what the doctors said, and my dad
said this sickness is not going to beat me,” Rachel stated.
“He
went, got his first surgery thanks to His Excellency the President came back
home and you would not have noticed.”
And as the former IEBC is
being laid to rest, Mary thanked all those who stood with the family at the
time he was battling cancer.
‘’I will take this opportunity to also thank the doctors who
started the journey. These people came out for him even when we were giving up;
it is us who encouraged them, and they came back,” she said.
“And
they kept on saying it is you people who have made us what we are in terms of
chairman; he was resilient and remained strong.”
