Ruto Mourns ‘Dear Friend’ Chivayo Weeks After US$200m Kenya Investment Announcement

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 1 — President William Ruto has mourned Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo after his death in a helicopter crash, just weeks after the businessman said he was preparing to invest US$200 million in Kenya.

Chivayo, 43, and his wife, Lucy Muteke, were among six people killed when their helicopter crashed in the Marondera Rural area of Mashonaland East, east of Harare, on Wednesday evening.

Zimbabwean police said the aircraft had six occupants and crashed at about 5pm local time. Investigators and forensic teams were deployed to the scene on Thursday as authorities began establishing what happened. The cause of the crash had not been determined.

Chivayo’s family later confirmed his death, with family spokesperson Herbert Chivayo telling Zimbabwean state broadcaster ZBC that the family was struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.

Ruto described Chivayo as a “dear friend” and said he would remember him for his warmth, energy and belief in Africa’s potential.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic passing of my friend, Wicknell Chivayo, together with his wife, Lucy Muteke, and the other lives lost in the helicopter crash in Zimbabwe,” Ruto said.

He added that the deaths were a painful loss to the families, friends and others who knew them.

“Wicknell was a dear friend whose warmth touched many people. I will remember him for his friendship, his energy and his deep conviction in the possibilities of our continent.”

Ruto also sent his condolences to the families of the other victims, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the people of Zimbabwe.

“May God grant Wicknell, Lucy and all those who perished eternal rest,” he said.

Chivayo’s last major Kenya announcement

The death comes less than a month after Chivayo publicly linked himself to a proposed US$200 million investment programme in Kenya.

On September 8, he said he had held an almost three-hour dinner meeting with Ruto at State House in Nairobi.

After the meeting, Chivayo said a long-standing plan to invest in Kenya was finally moving towards implementation.

“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,” Chivayo said.

He said the proposed investment would involve private capital in infrastructure projects expected to create jobs and support development.

However, Chivayo did not identify the projects, the companies involved or the specific agreements reached with the Kenyan government.

There was also no public confirmation from State House in the statement announcing the proposed investment.

That distinction is important. The US$200 million figure was Chivayo’s stated investment plan, rather than a publicly documented Kenyan government contract or confirmed project allocation.

Chivayo also spoke warmly about Ruto after the meeting, praising what he described as the President’s energy, vision and determination.

He said he intended to expand his business interests in Kenya and viewed the country as an attractive destination for African capital.

A relationship that had become increasingly public

Chivayo’s relationship with Ruto had been visible well before the September meeting.

The Zimbabwean businessman appeared with the Kenyan President on several occasions and was seen at high-profile events involving the President and his family.

His interactions with Ruto formed part of a wider pattern of Chivayo maintaining relationships with senior African political figures.

The businessman was also known for publicising meetings and social engagements with leaders across the continent, including Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other regional heads of state. The nature and purpose of some of those meetings were not always publicly disclosed.

His high-profile lifestyle and political connections had also attracted scrutiny in Zimbabwe and elsewhere. Reports have linked his business activities to allegations concerning public procurement and political financing, claims he denied. Those allegations should not be treated as established wrongdoing.

Investigation now under way

The immediate focus in Zimbabwe is on establishing what caused the helicopter to crash.

Police initially reported that six people were aboard. Government officials said there were no survivors, while responders worked at the crash site and authorities moved to identify the victims.

Forensic experts and investigators were at the site on Thursday as the inquiry began.

No official cause of the crash had been announced by Thursday, and there was no verified evidence publicly establishing whether mechanical failure, weather, pilot-related factors or another issue was responsible.

Chivayo's death therefore leaves two very different stories unfolding at once: in Zimbabwe, an investigation into a fatal aviation accident; in Kenya, questions over what would have become of the US$200 million investment plan he had announced only weeks earlier.

For now, that investment remains a proposal attributed to Chivayo rather than a confirmed government-backed project.

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.