Gachagua Claims Late Zimbabwean Tycoon Held $11B for Ruto Before Fatal Crash
Former Kenyan Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua alleged that late Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo was holding more than US$11 billion, equivalent to over Ksh1.5 trillion, for Kenyan President William Ruto at the time of a fatal helicopter crash. Gachagua made the claims during an engagement in Boston, United States, providing no documentary evidence to support the statements.
Boston Claims Target President Ruto and Late Tycoon Chivayo
Rigathi Gachagua told an audience in Boston on Sunday that Chivayo acted as a financial conduit for President William Ruto. The former deputy president claimed that Chivayo used private aircraft to land at private airstrips and transport large sums of cash for money laundering purposes. Gachagua addressed clergy during this same engagement, asserting that he possessed insider knowledge of these financial dealings due to his former role as deputy president.
Chivayo and his wife, Lulu, died on Wednesday in a helicopter crash near Marondera, Zimbabwe, alongside three other occupants. Captain Calvin Soda was identified as the pilot flying the aircraft. The tragedy has left President Ruto agitated regarding the location of the funds, according to Gachagua’s statements in Boston. The allegations involve a sum exceeding Ksh1.5 trillion, or roughly US$11 billion, which Gachagua claimed was acquired through theft.
Electoral Technology Connections Alleged by Gachagua
Beyond the financial allegations, Gachagua linked the late Zimbabwean businessman to preparations for Kenya’s 2027 General Election. Gachagua alleged an arrangement existed between Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and South Korean technology firm Miru Systems. The former deputy president claimed that tender specifications were intentionally designed to favor the South Korean company.
Chivayo served as a local agent for Miru Systems and was expected to facilitate vote-manipulation efforts during the upcoming general election. Gachagua asserted that Chivayo’s death has disrupted these plans, leaving the administration scrambling for alternative arrangements ahead of the 2027 polls.
Journalists Fail to Verify Claims as Regional Leaders React
No evidence was provided to substantiate the claims made in Boston. It was stated that journalists were unable to independently verify any of the allegations concerning money laundering, election technology, or the purported US$11 billion holding. The crash itself has drawn regional attention, prompting altered travel plans among high-profile figures. Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa avoided air travel following the incident, choosing instead to travel 520 kilometers by road.
The absence of financial records or official documentation linking President Ruto to the late businessman leaves the allegations uncorroborated.