Former Kenyan deputy president claims Chivayo was holding US$11 bln for President Ruto before his death

FORMER Kenyan Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has claimed that late Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo was holding more than US$11 billion for President William Ruto at the time of his death.

Chivayo and his wife, Lulu, died in a helicopter crash near Marondera on Wednesday, alongside three other occupants.

Speaking during an engagement in Boston, United States, on Sunday, Gachagua alleged that Chivayo had been used by Ruto to hold and move large amounts of money.

“There was a crook from Zimbabwe called Chivayo, because I was his (President Ruto) deputy, I know they were doing business together, and he is a man he has been using for money laundering. He gets money in dollars, that man comes with a plane, lands in a private airstrip, and takes the money to keep for him,” Gachagua claimed.

The former Deputy President alleged that Chivayo’s death had left Ruto worried about the whereabouts of money he claimed was in the businessman’s possession.

“The guy has crashed with a helicopter… and Kasongo has gone berserk. This man has his money,” Gachagua said, referring to Ruto.

Gachagua further claimed that the amount involved was more than Ksh1.5 trillion, equivalent to about US$11 billion, but provided no evidence to substantiate the allegation.

“Over 1.5 trillion. The man is dead, his wife is dead, he doesn’t know where to begin. So the man is angry,” he said.

He also accused Ruto of obtaining the alleged funds through theft.

“And this is money you stole. Wacha ijisaidie watu wengine. That’s why he is so mad,” he said.

Gachagua went on to link Chivayo’s death to his earlier allegations concerning the procurement of election technology ahead of Kenya’s 2027 General Election.

He alleged that an arrangement had been made involving Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and South Korean election technology company Miru Systems, claiming that tender specifications had been designed to favour the company.

“They had an arrangement with IEBC to introduce some technology from South Korea to manage the next elections. So, a tender was floated, and the specs were tailor-made for that company in South Korea,” Gachagua alleged.

He further claimed that Chivayo was acting as a local agent for the South Korean firm and was allegedly expected to help facilitate an attempt to manipulate the 2027 vote.

“So, this Chivayo guy was a local agent for those fellows. So, this is the man he was to use to steal the vote. The guy is dead. The man is stuck. He doesn’t know where to begin,” Gachagua said.