Among his most closely watched encounters were those with President William Ruto in Kenya.
Just weeks before his death, Chivayo attended a high-profile family ceremony linked to President Ruto in Kilgoris, Narok County, where the Kenyan leader personally drove him and his wife to a waiting helicopter.
He later returned to Nairobi for a meeting with Ruto at State House, where he said they discussed his plans to invest US$200 million in Kenya.
On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, Chivayo's extraordinary public life came to an abrupt end.
The 43-year-old businessman and his wife, Lucy “Lulu” Muteke, were among those killed when a helicopter crashed in the Marondera area of Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwean authorities said there were no survivors.
Police said the aircraft crashed at about 5pm in Marondera Rural, southeast of Harare, with emergency teams dispatched to the scene.
Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana said the aircraft was carrying a high-profile businessman, passengers and crew members. Reuters reported that Mangwana said there were seven people aboard, while police initially reported six.
The discrepancy in the early reports means the final passenger count should await official confirmation.
Chivayo’s final public post
Hours before the crash, Chivayo was still active on social media.
People Daily reported that his final public post on X was published at about 8:20am on September 30, just hours before the helicopter went down.
In the post, Chivayo praised two lawyers who had supported him for decades and promised them luxury vehicles and cash.
The post would become his final known public message before his death.
By the evening, news had emerged of the fatal helicopter crash.
A family spokesperson later confirmed that Chivayo and his wife were among those who died.
His final weeks with William Ruto
One of the most striking chapters of Chivayo's final weeks involved President William Ruto.
In August, Chivayo attended a traditional engagement ceremony involving Ruto's daughter, Charlene Ruto, at the Ruto family's property in Kilgoris, Narok County.
After the event, Ruto personally drove Chivayo and his wife to a helipad.
Chivayo recorded the journey and expressed his excitement at being driven by the Kenyan President.
“I am being driven by the President of Kenya,” he said in the video.
“Being driven by the President of the Republic. Ah no, no. God is the greatest,” he added.
The video attracted widespread attention in Kenya and became one of the most visible examples of Chivayo's unusually public relationship with Ruto.
The encounter was not their first.
Chivayo had documented several meetings with Ruto, including visits to State House and meetings at other locations.
The Star reported that he had publicly documented encounters with Ruto dating back to January 2025, including discussions around renewable energy and subsequent meetings in Kenya.
The US$200 million Kenya investment plan
Just three weeks before his death, Chivayo announced another major development involving Kenya.
On September 9, he said a planned US$200 million investment in Kenya was finally moving from discussions to reality after a nearly three-hour meeting with Ruto at State House in Nairobi.
Chivayo said the investment would target various infrastructure projects.
“For me personally, last night was particularly significant because my long-standing vision to invest a small US$200 million in Kenya through various infrastructure development projects is finally coming to fruition,” he said.
However, Chivayo did not identify the specific projects that would receive the proposed investment.
He also did not disclose the companies involved or provide details of any formal agreements.
There was no corresponding confirmation from State House in the report about the US$200 million figure or specific projects.
That distinction is important because the investment remained a claim by Chivayo rather than a publicly detailed government agreement.
The JKIA controversy
Chivayo's name had also featured prominently in Kenyan discussions surrounding the proposed expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Some reports linked his business interests to the KSh375 billion JKIA project.
However, Kenya's Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir subsequently denied that a company linked to Chivayo had a role in the airport expansion contract.
According to Billionaires.Africa, Chirchir said Chivayo's company was not involved in the KSh375 billion deal.
The Standard reported that the airport project had instead been awarded to a consortium led by China Communications Construction Company, with IMC Construction among the joint venture partners, while Chivayo's connection to the project generated public debate.
For that reason, Chivayo's alleged role in the JKIA project should not be presented as an established fact.
Who was Wicknell Chivayo?
Away from Kenya, Chivayo was one of Zimbabwe's most recognisable businessmen.
He founded Intratrek Zimbabwe, a company involved in energy and infrastructure projects.
His name became particularly associated with the 100-megawatt Gwanda Solar Project, a major renewable-energy development in Zimbabwe.
The project became embroiled in delays, legal disputes and controversy, making Chivayo a familiar figure in Zimbabwe's business and political discussions.
At the same time, he cultivated an enormous public profile through social media.
Chivayo regularly displayed luxury cars, private aircraft, expensive watches and other signs of wealth.
He also became known for giving large donations and expensive gifts to musicians, football personalities, religious leaders and ordinary followers.
His public lifestyle made him both a celebrity and a controversial business figure.
His political connections
Chivayo's public profile extended beyond business.
He was closely associated with Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and frequently posted photographs and videos of meetings with political leaders.
AP reported that Chivayo also publicly showcased interactions with regional leaders including Ruto, South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa, Tanzania's Samia Suluhu Hassan and Eswatini's King Mswati III.
His business and political relationships attracted scrutiny and allegations relating to public procurement and election financing, allegations he denied.
His supporters pointed to his business activities and philanthropy, while his critics questioned aspects of his government-linked dealings and political access.
The Gwanda Solar Project
One of the most important business chapters in Chivayo's career was the Gwanda Solar Project.
Intratrek was awarded the contract to develop the 100MW solar plant, but the project experienced years of delays and disputes.
Chivayo also faced legal proceedings connected to the project but was ultimately acquitted in a fraud case linked to the development.
The project returned to the headlines shortly before his death when Intratrek was expected to resume work under a new arrangement.
That meant one of the projects most closely associated with Chivayo was still part of Zimbabwe's energy debate at the time of his death.
A businessman whose final days were closely watched
Chivayo's final weeks brought together many of the themes that had defined his public life.
There were business ambitions, political relationships, luxury and philanthropy.
In Kenya, his meetings with Ruto had made him a familiar name far beyond Zimbabwe.
His September announcement about a planned US$200 million investment suggested that he intended to deepen his business presence in Kenya.
His appearance at the Ruto family event in Kilgoris further highlighted his access to the Kenyan President.
Then, within hours of his final social-media post, the businessman was dead.
What caused the helicopter crash?
The cause of the crash remained unclear as of publication.
Zimbabwean police said the aircraft went down in Marondera and that emergency personnel were responding at the scene.
Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said efforts were underway to identify those who died because the aircraft caught fire.
“They were burned, there was a fire and we will be trying to identify the people,” Nyathi said, according to AP.
Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, the circumstances of the flight and other evidence to determine what caused the accident.
No definitive cause should therefore be assigned to the crash until investigators release their findings.
A sudden end to a highly public life
Wicknell Chivayo's death closes the chapter on one of Zimbabwe's most visible business personalities.
His career crossed energy, infrastructure, philanthropy, football, social media and politics.
But for Kenyan audiences, his final weeks will also be remembered for his highly publicised relationship with President William Ruto, his appearance at the Ruto family event in Kilgoris and his claim that a US$200 million investment plan in Kenya was finally taking shape.
Now, questions surrounding his final journey and the cause of the helicopter crash are likely to dominate the next phase of the story.
Chivayo was 43.
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