He flashes stacks of cash on Instagram, flies in private jets, and now, it seems, he walks the corridors of Kenya's State House with ease. Wicknell Chivayo, the flamboyant Zimbabwean businessman, has become a fixture in President Ruto’s inner circle, triggering alarm bells among the opposition and intelligence observers alike.

Known as "Sir Wicknell," Chivayo is not your average foreign investor. He is a convicted fraudster with a colorful rap sheet in his home country. His frequent appearances in Nairobi, often captured in jovial photos with the Head of State, have raised serious questions about vetting and the company the Presidency keeps.

A History of Fraud

Chivayo’s past is paved with scandal. He was convicted of fraud in 2004 and served jail time. More recently, he was at the center of a $100 million scandal involving the Zimbabwe Power Company for a solar project in Gwanda that never materialized. Despite being paid millions, no solar panels were ever installed.

Opposition leaders, including Justin Muturi, have branded him a "crook" and questioned his influence. "This man is a convicted fraudster... Whenever he comes to Kenya, he passes through Eldoret. What is the President doing with him?" Muturi posed.

• The Election Connection: The most explosive allegation links Chivayo to the supply of election materials. The opposition claims he is a broker for firms like Smartmatic, fearing he could be the conduit for compromising the 2027 polls.
• The Lavish Distraction: Chivayo uses his ostentatious wealth—donating cars and handing out cash—to buy social license, a tactic he is now deploying in Kenya.

A Security Risk?

The embrace of Chivayo by the Kenyan elite is baffling. By allowing a figure with such a compromised integrity profile into the sanctum of power, the administration risks not just reputational damage, but potential state capture.

As Chivayo continues to post selfies from Nairobi's high tables, Kenyans are right to ask: What exactly is he buying, and what is the price tag?