Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo has become a familiar figure around President William Ruto, appearing with the Kenyan leader at State House, private residences and other official occasions.
Chivayo, who made his name through energy and infrastructure projects in Zimbabwe, has publicly documented several of his encounters with Ruto since early 2025. His visits have included discussions on renewable energy, meetings at State House and appearances at events involving the President.
The businessman has also developed an interest in Kenya’s business environment, particularly infrastructure and energy. His name became prominent in discussions around the planned expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), although the government later disputed claims about his involvement in the project.
Here are five things to know about Chivayo’s growing connection to Kenya.
1. His relationship with Ruto became public in 2025
Chivayo’s association with Ruto began attracting attention in January 2025 after he shared photographs from a visit to the President’s private residence in Kilgoris, Narok County.
On January 27, 2025, he visited State House in Nairobi. Chivayo described the encounter as a courtesy visit during which they discussed renewable energy.
He returned to State House in April 2025, when he was photographed alongside Ruto and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
The meetings continued into 2026. Chivayo documented encounters with Ruto at Sagana State Lodge and State House, among other locations. In June 2026, he again met the President at State House shortly before Ruto travelled to France for the G7 Summit.
The repeated meetings have made Chivayo an increasingly familiar figure in Kenyan political and business circles.
2. Renewable energy has been part of the business conversation
Energy is central to Chivayo’s business background.
He is the founder of Intratrek Zimbabwe, a company involved in energy and infrastructure projects. One of its best-known projects is the Gwanda Solar Project, a proposed 100-megawatt solar power plant in Zimbabwe.
Against that background, Chivayo’s January 2025 meeting with Ruto had a clear business angle. He said renewable energy was among the issues discussed.
Kenya has invested heavily in renewable energy, with geothermal, wind, solar and hydropower forming important parts of its electricity mix. That makes energy a natural area of interest for an entrepreneur whose business career has largely centred on infrastructure and power projects.
However, a meeting to discuss investment in renewable energy does not automatically mean a contract or investment agreement was concluded.
3. His access to Ruto has extended beyond State House
What makes Chivayo’s Kenyan profile particularly noticeable is the variety of settings in which he has appeared with Ruto.
His publicly documented encounters have included State House as well as the President’s private residence in Kilgoris. He has also appeared with Ruto during official events outside Nairobi.
In August 2026, Chivayo visited the Ruto family’s Intonna Heritage Farm in Kilgoris. He later filmed Ruto driving him towards a helipad.
Chivayo has openly praised the President in his social-media posts and repeatedly described his meetings with Ruto as courtesy visits.
By June 2026, several meetings between the two had been publicly documented since January 2025.
The repeated encounters have consequently made Chivayo a recognisable figure to Kenyans who follow the President’s public engagements.
4. His name became associated with the JKIA expansion
Chivayo’s profile in Kenya grew further in 2026 after his name was linked to the planned modernisation of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Initial reports connected IMC Construction, a company associated with Chivayo, to a consortium involved in the airport project and placed the value of the proposed works at about Sh375 billion.
The issue attracted attention because JKIA is Kenya’s main international airport and its expansion is one of the country’s major infrastructure projects.
There was, however, an important clarification from the government.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said Chivayo’s company had not participated as a bidder and had no role or association with the tender. He also said the contract value was Sh154.2 billion.
The government’s clarification means claims linking Chivayo directly to the awarded JKIA contract should be treated carefully.
5. Kenya has become part of his wider African business profile
Chivayo’s interest in Kenya fits into a broader business profile that stretches beyond Zimbabwe.
His career has been built largely around energy and infrastructure, while his public profile has been boosted by his social-media activity, philanthropy and highly visible lifestyle.
In Kenya, however, his most prominent connection has been his repeated meetings with Ruto.
From renewable-energy discussions at State House to appearances at private family events, Chivayo has documented a relationship that has attracted considerable public attention.
The facts surrounding the relationship remain fairly straightforward: Chivayo is a Zimbabwean businessman; he has met Ruto repeatedly since 2025; he has discussed business and investment interests in Kenya, and his name was publicly linked to the JKIA expansion before the government disputed his involvement in the tender.
His presence around the Kenyan President has therefore become an important part of his public profile in the country, alongside his reputation as a businessman whose career combines energy projects, infrastructure, philanthropy and a highly visible social-media presence.
