Wicknell Chivayo's death raises questions over his estate and Kenya links

The Zimbabwean businessman died in a helicopter crash on September 30, 2026, and his family has begun taking stock of his estate.

What happened

Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, died in a helicopter crash near Marondera on Wednesday evening, September 30, 2026 [1]. His family has registered his estate with Zimbabwe's Master of the High Court. This is the first step towards establishing what he owned, his businesses, and any debts or claims against him [1].

The sources disagree on who is overseeing the estate. According to [1], no person has yet been appointed to oversee the process, so the full accounting of his wealth has not begun. Tuko reports that his ex-wife, Sonja Madzikanda, has been named co-executrix of the estate [2]. A Herald headline also refers to Sonja and Esther signing an undertaking for joint administration with conflict-of-interest safeguards, but the extract does not give the details [3].

Why Kenyans are searching for it

The sources do not explain what specifically drove the rise in searches. They do describe why his death has drawn attention in Kenya. According to [1], it has raised fresh questions about his business interests in Kenya and his close relationship with President William Ruto. Reports linked IMC Construction Kenya Ltd, a company associated with him, to the proposed expansion of JKIA, and the same source says he had a highly publicised friendship with the President [1].

Key facts

• Death: helicopter crash near Marondera on September 30, 2026, which also killed his wife, Lucy Muteke [1].
• Estate: registered with Zimbabwe's Master of the High Court. Its full value remains unknown [1].
• Dispute: a US$25 million dispute over property and wealth with former wife Sonja Madzikanda was awaiting a decision by Zimbabwe's Supreme Court when he died [1].
• Children: he left two young children [1].
• Executor role: Sonja Madzikanda was reported as co-executrix [2], while [1] says no one has yet been appointed to oversee the process.
• Court claim: a Tuko headline says court papers reveal Sonja demanded KSh 3.2b before the crash. The extract does not include the details [2].

What to watch

Watch whether an overseer is formally appointed, given the conflicting reports [1][2]. The outcome of the pending Supreme Court matter over the US$25 million dispute will also matter for the estate [1]. Further details on the KSh 3.2b claim and the joint administration undertaking may also emerge [2][3]. The sources do not report any official statement on IMC Construction Kenya Ltd's links to JKIA, so readers should treat those links as reported rather than established [1].

Sources

1. [1] Wicknell Chivayo empire: Kenyan business links under scrutiny as family begins wealth audit - Daily Nation
2. [2] Video: Sonja's reaction to being named co-executrix of Chivayo's estate emerges - Tuko News
3. [3] Chivayo Estate: Strict Conflict-Of-Interest Safeguards. . . Sonja, Esther Sign Undertaking For Joint Administration - Herald.co.zw

Compiled by the NairobiCity trend desk from the sources above.