Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo has gained attention in Kenya after the government awarded a stake in the proposed KSh375 billion expansion project at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to a firm he owns.
Chivayo, popularly known as Sir Wicknell, is the founder and chief executive of Intratrek Zimbabwe, a company involved in energy, transport, and infrastructure projects.
Born on November 22, 1982, in Zimbabwe, Chivayo built his business career after starting in the private sector and later expanding into large-scale investments.
Over the years, he has become known for his involvement in government-linked projects and infrastructure ventures.
Beyond business, Chivayo has developed relationships with several African leaders. He has publicly spoken about his connections with Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Kenyan President William Ruto, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
Chivayo is also widely known for his high-profile lifestyle, including frequent displays of luxury vehicles, private jet travel, and expensive gifts, and has publicly stated his ambition to become a billionaire.
How Wicknell Chivayo Built Close Ties With President William Ruto
Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo has developed a visible relationship with Kenyan President William Ruto through a series of high-profile meetings and engagements in Kenya.
Chivayo first publicly highlighted his connection with Ruto in January 2025 when he shared photographs from the President’s residence in Kilgoris. He described the visit as a rare privilege and praised Ruto’s leadership.
“On a personal level, I consider him a FATHER and mentor, whose guidance extends beyond areas of business and investment interests and ventures into matters of faith and ETERNAL DESTINY,” he said in an online post.
The businessman has since held several meetings with the Kenyan leader. In January 2026, he met Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki at Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri County. Photographs from the meeting showed the leaders interacting in an informal setting.
In March 2026, Chivayo again met President Ruto at State House, Nairobi. After the meeting, he publicly commended the President and described the engagement positively.
Chivayo also appeared alongside Ruto and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan during a meeting at State House, Nairobi, further highlighting his growing profile in regional business and political circles.
On June 1, 2026, Chivayo visited the newly built Wajir State Lodge, where he disclosed that he was discussing a multimillion-dollar investment project in Kenya with President Ruto. He described the Head of State as one of Africa’s most visionary leaders.
The businessman has also cited discussions with Ruto on Kenya’s long-term energy ambitions, including plans to expand electricity generation capacity through renewable energy, geothermal, hydropower, solar, and gas-to-power projects.
Chivayo’s links to Kenya have extended beyond meetings with State officials. In March 2025, his company, Intratrek Zimbabwe, signed a $2.5 billion agreement with China’s Chint Group for energy transmission projects in Kenya and Tanzania, one of the largest private energy investment deals announced in the region.
Wicknell Chivayo’s Career and Business Empire
Wicknell Chivayo began his working life at the age of 15 after leaving school in 1996. He initially worked as a wages clerk at a local bus company before moving into foreign exchange trading in Harare.
A major turning point came between 2004 and 2006 when Chivayo served a prison term following a fraud-related case in Zimbabwe. After his release, he returned to business and founded Intratrek Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd in 2008.
Intratrek has since become the flagship company in Chivayo’s business empire. The firm specializes in engineering, procurement, and construction projects, particularly in the renewable energy sector. Its most notable project is the Gwanda Solar Power Station, a US$173 million solar energy venture in Zimbabwe.
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Beyond energy, Intratrek has interests in real estate, logistics, transport services, and infrastructure development. The company has also participated in public projects and partnerships across Southern and Eastern Africa.
Wicknell Chivayo also owns TRX, a transport and logistics business that operates a fleet of about 50 fuel tankers. He is also linked to a fuel company in South Africa that exports fuel to Lesotho.
His business interests extend beyond Zimbabwe into Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa, where he has pursued infrastructure and energy opportunities. In March 2025, Intratrek signed a US$2.5 billion agreement with China’s Chint Group for electricity transmission projects in Kenya and Tanzania.
Apart from Intratrek, Chivayo has held leadership roles in business organizations including the Africa Group and the Affirmative Action Group. He has also been associated with IMC Communications, which expanded into road construction and maintenance.
The businessman has invested in property and infrastructure projects and has occasionally been linked to farming ventures. Estimates of his wealth vary widely, although he has publicly stated that he made his first million rand at age 19 and his first million dollars at age 23.
Wicknell Chivayo is also known for philanthropy and public donations. Over the years, he has donated vehicles to public figures, supported sporting initiatives, and contributed equipment, including an ambulance donated through his company to a hospital in Zimbabwe.
Wicknell Chivayo’s Major Controversies Over the Years
Wicknell Chivayo has been marked by a series of legal disputes, investigations, and public controversies in his business career, making him one of Zimbabwe’s most talked-about businessmen.
In 2004, Chivayo was sentenced to prison after being convicted of fraud involving a South African national. The conviction marked one of the earliest high-profile legal cases linked to the businessman.
Years later, he was again linked to controversy after reports emerged alleging the use of fictitious websites that purportedly assisted clients in procuring goods. The allegations were reported by Zimbabwean media in 2011.
One of the most prominent controversies surrounding Chivayo concerned the Gwanda Solar Power Project. The US$200 million project came under scrutiny after investigations into power contracts awarded through Zimbabwe’s electricity sector. The project became the subject of parliamentary and public debate following concerns about delays and non-delivery.
In December 2017, Chivayo was arrested in connection with a US$5 million contract linked to the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA). The matter generated significant public attention due to its connection to government procurement processes.
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His company, Intratrek Zimbabwe, also featured in a separate case involving former Zimbabwe Power Company chairman Stanley Kazhanje, who was later jailed after being found guilty of receiving money from the firm.
Chivayo’s name resurfaced in connection with Zimbabwe’s 2023 election materials tender, a contract reportedly worth more than US$100 million. The deal attracted scrutiny and sparked debate over procurement processes and pricing.
In 2025, allegations emerged regarding large financial transfers connected to election-related tenders, prompting calls for investigations. However, Zimbabwe’s Anti-Corruption Commission later stated that it had cleared Chivayo of allegations linked to the procurement of election materials.
The businessman has also attracted attention over his extravagant spending, including purchases of luxury vehicles and the donation of cars and cash gifts to public figures, religious leaders, musicians, and sports personalities.
Despite the controversies, investigations, and public scrutiny that have followed him over the years, Chivayo has remained a prominent figure in Zimbabwean business circles and continues to be associated with major infrastructure, energy, and investment projects across the region.
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