He was raised in an Anglican family and as a child he used to walk 10 km daily in both directions to attend Malakisi Primary School. He went on to attend Butonge Primary School and Kolanya High School, where he completed his studies in 1969. Afterwards he worked as an untrained teacher at Butonge Secondary School to help educate his two sisters and five brothers. He started to work as a clerical officer in the Nakuru Provincial Commissioner's office, being promoted to the level of district officer two in Narok. He concluded that this was not his vocation, so he returned to untrained teaching, in Kitale, in 1972. He entered Kaimosi Teachers College to become a qualified teacher, finishing his studies in 1974. Wabukala went to work as a qualified teacher at Naifarm Primary School, in Kitale, being moved to Bungoma afterwards. There he was promoted to Inspector of Schools in charge of the Butonge Zone in Sirisia Division.

In 1985, he left his profession to study Theology at the St. Paul's Theological College, in Limuru, finishing his studies in 1988. He still had the obligation to work for the Teachers Service Commission, teaching at the Matulo Secondary School, in Webuye, and at the Nagina Girls High School, in Busia.

In 1990, Wabukala received a scholarship from the Anglican Church of Canada to study at the Wycliffe College at Toronto School of Theology, of the University of Toronto, in Canada, where he became a Doctor of Philosophy in 1994.^[2] Returning to Kenya, he was a lecturer at St. Paul's Theological College, in Limuru, where he became academic dean.

Wabukala left office, to be elected the first Bishop of Bungoma on 13 October 1996, remaining in office for the next 12 years. Wabukala was elected Archbishop of Kenya on 24 April 2009, succeeding outgoing Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi.^[3] He was enthroned at All Saints Cathedral, Nairobi, on 5 July 2009.^[4]

He was national vice-chairman of the National Council of Churches of Kenya, from 2000 to 2004, and national chairman from 2004 to 2009.

Wabukala is the serving Chairperson of National Anti Corruption Campaign Steering Committee having been appointed by Mwai Kibaki the President of the Republic of Kenya.^[5] He previously served as an NACCSC Committee Member for five years.

Wabukala is a leading name in the Anglican realignment movement, both at the Global South and the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, like his predecessor. He was the chairman of GAFCON and as such a supporter of the Anglican Church in North America admission at the Anglican Communion.^[6]

Wabukala announced he would retire on 26 June 2016.^[7]

• Dr Eliud Wabukala reaches career apex, Standard Digital, 5 July 2009