{
  "id": 11102182,
  "title": "Wicknell Chivayo’s projects: Gwanda Solar, JKIA claims and ZEC procurement",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/wicknell-chivayos-projects-gwanda-solar-jkia-claims-and-zec",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-01T03:58:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "People Daily Kenya",
    "slug": "people-daily-kenya",
    "url": "https://peopledaily.digital/business/wicknell-chivayos-projects-gwanda-solar-jkia-claims-and-zec-procurement"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Late Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo had business interests tied to significant infrastructure and government contracts in Zimbabwe. In Kenya, a separate dispute from 2026 involved claims that one of his companies was linked to the planned expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).\n\nIn Zimbabwe, the company Intratrek Zimbabwe was instructed to restart work on the 100-megawatt Gwanda Solar Project, which had been stalled for years due to contractual and legal issues. In Kenya, the government refuted allegations that Chivayo's company took part in the JKIA bidding process.\n\nA government inquiry found no proof that Chivayo was directly involved in a suggested fraud during Zimbabwe's 2023 election procurement. Intratrek was awarded a contract for the Gwanda solar project in 2014, with the engineering, procurement, and construction contract signed in 2015. Initially valued at KSh22.34 billion (US$172 million), the EPC value was later cut to KSh17.15 billion (US$132 million) following court rulings. Following a court ruling in January 2023, the contract's validity was upheld. In September 2026, ZPC gave Intratrek a formal Notice to Proceed, enabling the contractor to proceed with the project within 24 months. The government stated that mobilization would commence following an advance mobilization payment, though the amount and terms were not disclosed. Intratrek's executive chairman, Wilson Manase, declared that the company was preparing to mobilize personnel and equipment for the project, which aims to boost Zimbabwe's electricity generation capacity by 100 megawatts.\n\nIn June 2026, it came to light that Chivayo's company, IMC Construction Kenya, was connected to a consortium reportedly tied to JKIA's modernization plans. Kenyan Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir dismissed the claims, stating that Chivayo's company did not participate in the tender and had no role in the project. The government announced a Ksh154.2 billion deal with China Road and Bridge Corporation for the airport expansion, which would boost JKIA's annual passenger capacity from 7.5 million to 22 million. This confirmed contract did not involve Chivayo's company.\n\nChivayo was also implicated in claims about Zimbabwe's 2023 general election election materials procurement. The allegations included accusations that over Ksh6.34 billion (R800 million) had been paid to Chivayo as an agent for South African printing company Ren-Form. The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) investigated the claims. In December 2025, ZACC reported that no evidence was found linking Chivayo, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, or Ren-Form to the alleged procurement fraud. The commission also stated that they had located no contracts between ZEC and the parties named in the accusations. ZACC Chairperson Michael Reza said that investigators had requested contractual documents from ZEC but found no evidence establishing the alleged relationship. These cases have different outcomes, including contract delays, court decisions, and investigation findings.",
  "summary": "The late Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo’s business interests have been linked to major infrastructure and public-sector contracts in Zimbabwe, while a separate dispute in Kenya in 2026 centred on claims that one of his companies was involved in the planned expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). The projects have had different outcomes. His company […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Prominent Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo and wife killed in helicopter crash",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/prominent-zimbabwean-businessman-wicknell-chivayo-and-wife-killed-in",
        "published": "2026-09-30T19:16:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Capital FM Kenya",
        "title": "Zimbabwean tycoon Wicknell Chivayo, wife feared dead in helicopter crash",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/zimbabwean-tycoon-wicknell-chivayo-wife-feared-dead-in-helicopter",
        "published": "2026-09-30T19:24:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Standard Kenya",
        "title": "Who was Wicknell Chivayo? The Zimbabwe tycoon who dined with presidents",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/who-was-wicknell-chivayo-the-zimbabwe-tycoon-who-dined-with-presidents",
        "published": "2026-09-30T19:33:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "Wicknell Chivayo: Zimbabwean businessman reported dead in Marondera helicopter crash, local media says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/wicknell-chivayo-zimbabwean-businessman-reported-dead-in-marondera",
        "published": "2026-09-30T19:40:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "AllAfrica",
        "title": "Zimbabwe: Wicknell Chivayo and Wife, Lulu, Killed in Helicopter Crash - Report",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/zimbabwe-wicknell-chivayo-and-wife-lulu-killed-in-helicopter-crash",
        "published": "2026-09-30T19:41:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "People Daily Kenya",
        "title": "Who was Wicknell Chivayo? Inside his rise in East African political circles",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/who-was-wicknell-chivayo-inside-his-rise-in-east-african-political",
        "published": "2026-09-30T20:18:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KBC",
        "title": "Ruto mourns Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, wife who died in helicopter crash",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/ruto-mourns-zimbabwean-businessman-wicknell-chivayo-wife-who-died-in",
        "published": "2026-10-01T02:12:47.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}