Wicknell Chivayo Video Giving Money To JKIA Workers Raise Eyebrows

Wicknell Chivayo sparked fresh debate after he handed cash to Kenyans at the airport just days after his firm won a major stake in the JKIA expansion project. The Zimbabwean businessman drew crowds and criticism in Nairobi as videos of the handouts spread fast online.

Wicknell Chivayo moved through the tarmac with stacks of bills. He approached airport workers and passersby near a private jet. People stepped forward one by one. Some smiled wide. Others looked surprised as he pressed money into their hands. The scene unfolded at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in recent days. It came at a moment when questions swirl around his growing role in Kenya.

Critics wasted no time. They pointed to his past. Chivayo faced fraud and money laundering charges years ago in Zimbabwe. He served time after a 2004 conviction for theft by false pretences. Later cases involved large sums and government contracts that never fully delivered. Yet here he stood in Nairobi. He flashed cash freely.

How did Wicknell Chivayo land a piece of the JKIA deal?

His company secured involvement through a joint venture. IMC Construction Kenya joined forces with China Communications Construction Company on the massive project. Kenyan authorities awarded the stake in a tender worth 375 billion shillings, roughly 2.9 billion dollars.

The work targets a new passenger terminal and extra runway. Officials aim to boost capacity from about 8.8 million passengers a year now to much higher numbers. Planners target completion of the new runway by 2029. It should lift aircraft movements from 14 to 63 per hour.

Chivayo built close ties in Kenya. He visits State House often. President William Ruto knows him well. The businessman appears at events and meetings. Insiders say those connections helped open doors for the infrastructure fund involvement.

The deal replaced an earlier plan with India’s Adani Group. That one collapsed amid public anger and corruption probes. Now fresh scrutiny lands on this new arrangement.

One observer at the airport watched the handouts closely. People gathered quickly. A worker in a yellow safety vest accepted notes with a quick nod. Another man in a suit pocketed his share and stepped back.

Chivayo kept moving. He grinned at times. He scanned faces for the next recipient. The tarmac buzzed under grey skies. Engines hummed in the distance. Fuel trucks rolled past.

The moment fuelled online firestorms. Videos racked up views fast. Kenyans debated what it meant. Some called it generous support. Others saw it as calculated showmanship. “Huyu criminal ashajua weakness ya Wakenya,” one post declared.

Chivayo owns IMC Construction Kenya outright. The firm lacks deep experience in major airport builds. Critics highlight that gap. The Law Society of Kenya demands full contract details.

The airport serves as East Africa’s busiest hub. It handles heavy traffic every day. Delays plague operations now because capacity strains limits. The expansion promises relief. Yet the price tag jumped higher than the cancelled Adani proposal. Public funds from the National Infrastructure Fund foot much of the bill. Questions linger on value for money.

Back on the ground that day, Chivayo continued his rounds. He approached a group near the jet stairs. Staff smiled as he distributed more notes. One pilot stood nearby and observed quietly. Vehicles idled. The wind carried jet fuel smells across the concrete. Moments like these stick in public memory. They mix personal flair with big business stakes.

He rose in Zimbabwe through political links and flashy gestures. He donates cars and cash back home. Now the same style lands in Nairobi.

Supporters defend the tender. They argue Chinese partners bring proven expertise. They say local involvement creates jobs.

The video from the airport keeps circulating. It shows him in a dark sweatshirt with bold lettering. He walks confidently. He hands out what appear to be hundred-dollar bills. Recipients react with quick thanks. The clip lasts under a minute but speaks volumes. It captures a man comfortable in the spotlight amid swirling questions. Yan’s watch is closest of all. They feel the daily grind of travel delays and high costs. They also notice when big players arrive with open hands and bigger contracts.