President William Ruto has mourned Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, describing him as a dear friend whose warmth, energy and belief in Africa left a lasting impression.

Ruto shared the tribute on X hours after Chivayo, his wife Lucy Muteke, and four others died in a helicopter crash in Zimbabwe on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

“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 described the deaths as a painful loss to the victims’ families, friends and everyone 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,” the President added.

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

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

A friendship that played out in public

Ruto’s description of Chivayo as a friend comes after more than a year of highly visible interactions between the two.

Chivayo regularly shared photographs and videos of his meetings with Ruto, including visits to State House in Nairobi and encounters at the President’s private residence in Kilgoris.

One of their widely documented meetings came in January 2025, when Chivayo visited Ruto at State House and said they discussed renewable energy.

He later returned to State House, where he was photographed with Ruto and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Further meetings followed at other locations, including Sagana State Lodge and Wajir State Lodge.

The repeated encounters made Chivayo a familiar face around the Kenyan President, particularly because he often documented their meetings himself.

Their relationship received another burst of attention in August 2026 after Chivayo shared a video of Ruto driving him to a helipad at the President’s private residence in Kilgoris.

Chivayo had attended a traditional engagement ceremony involving Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto, at the family’s Intonna Heritage Farm.

After the event, Ruto personally drove Chivayo and his wife towards the helipad. Chivayo filmed the journey from the front passenger seat and expressed his excitement at being driven by the Kenyan Head of State.

Chivayo later described the moment as one of the most memorable experiences of his life and thanked Ruto for what he described as his kindness and humility.

The public warmth was not one-sided. Chivayo frequently praised Ruto in his social media posts following their meetings, speaking positively about his leadership and development agenda.

In September 2026, Chivayo also said he planned to invest US$200 million in Kenya through infrastructure projects. His business interests had increasingly brought him into conversations around investment opportunities in the country.

However, the public record of their friendship and the separate question of government procurement are not the same thing. Their meetings document repeated interactions, but they do not by themselves establish that the relationship resulted in government favours or contracts.

Chivayo’s final hours and Ruto’s tribute

Chivayo’s death came only hours after he made what became his final public social media post.

On the morning of September 30, he wrote at length about two lawyers he said had supported him for decades. He promised them expensive vehicles and substantial cash gifts as part of his appreciation.

Later that day, the helicopter carrying Chivayo, Muteke, two other passengers and two pilots crashed in the Marondera area, southeast of Harare.

Zimbabwean authorities said there were no survivors. Police said investigations into the crash were underway.

The sudden death brought renewed attention to Chivayo’s relationships with several African leaders, including Ruto, whom he had repeatedly featured on his social media pages.

In his tribute, Ruto did not focus on Chivayo’s business dealings or public profile. Instead, he remembered him as a friend and spoke of his energy, warmth and belief in Africa’s potential.

The President also extended condolences to Chivayo and Muteke’s families, the families of the other victims, Mnangagwa and the people of Zimbabwe.

For a businessman whose public life was often dominated by luxury, business and high-profile encounters, Ruto’s message offered a more personal account of the relationship between the two men.