Wicknell Chivayo Implicated in Kenyan Foreign Nationals Passports Issuance Scandal

Nairobi - Kenya's immigration department is facing mounting scrutiny after a leaked government document revealed the alleged issuance of Kenyan passports to foreign nationals, including controversial Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo and individuals linked to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

This has prompted outrage over potential breaches of national security and immigration protocols in Kenya.  

The document, circulated widely on social media and highlighted by activist Boniface Mwangi, lists 28 individuals, mostly of Sudanese and Zimbabwean origin, who reportedly received passports through irregular channels, bypassing standard procedures that require Kenyan national identity cards or rigorous vetting.

Mwangi, in a post on Instagram, alleged the orders came directly from State House, Kenya's presidential office, and questioned the process.

 "Whose account was used for this illegal passports application? Did they use a zero token where no payment was made? Why were the immigration officers told the applicants were Very Important Persons (VIPs) and to issue express passports?" He asked.

The revelations have triggered widespread condemnation, with Kenyans expressing frustration on social media platforms, contrasting the swift issuance to foreigners with the lengthy delays ordinary citizens face for passports.

"Kenyan passport being dished out to foreigners... RSF Commander Hemedti younger brother Algoney Hamdan & family and Zimbabwean washwash Wicknell Chivayo holding Kenyan passport by passing laid laws yet Kenyans applying for passports are taken through circles," posted one user on Facebook.  

Advocate Peter Wahinya, invoking Article 35 of Kenya's constitution on access to information, has formally demanded details from the Directorate of Immigration Services, including application processes, involved officers and any ongoing investigations.

In a letter to the department, Wahinya sought copies of applications for the named individuals, emphasizing the need for transparency amid allegations of executive overreach.

Former Kenya Interior Minister, Fred Matiang’i, speaking in Nakuru, criticized the government's handling of sensitive documents.

"Travel documents are sensitive national instruments that should only be issued after thorough background checks," he said.

Opposition leaders, including Wiper party head, Kalonzo Musyoka, warned that such issuances could strain Kenya's international relations and expose citizens to heightened scrutiny abroad.

Chivayo, listed as number six on the document with passport number 1111685723 issued on July 8, 2025, has become a focal point of the alleged scandal.

The 44-year-old Zimbabwean, known as "Sir Wicknell" gained notoriety through a botched US$200 million solar power tender with Zimbabwe's state utility ZESA in 2015, where his company Intratrek allegedly received advance part payments without delivering the project.

More recently, Chivayo was accused by ZANU-PF allies of inflating contracts for election materials supplied by South African firm Ren-Form to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) ahead of the 2023 polls, including overbilling biometric voter registration kits.  

 Chivayo's ties to Kenyan authorities have raised eyebrows. He has visited Kenya's State House multiple times, including meetings with President William Ruto in January 2025 and February 2026, often documented in photos shared on social media.

Critics, including Zimbabwean opposition figures, allege Chivayo leverages his proximity to African leaders like Ruto and Zimbabwe's Emmerson Mnangagwa for business deals, with some speculating his Kenyan passport could facilitate election-related activities ahead of Kenya's 2027 vote.

 The passport controversy fits into a broader pattern of allegations against Kenya's administration under President Ruto, accused of irregularly issuing diplomatic and travel documents to controversial figures.

In recent years, concerns have surfaced over passports and IDs being "dished out" in areas like Eastleigh and Nairobi often to Somali nationals without proper vetting.  

  A 2025 national audit highlighted rogue officials bypassing biometric protocols to issue documents to foreign warlords and business figures, with digital records reportedly erased to cover tracks.

Sudanese nationals on the list, including Algoney Hamdan Dagalo, brother of RSF commander Mohamed "Hemedti" Hamdan Dagalo, have drawn particular alarm due to United States of America sanctions on the RSF for atrocities in Sudan's civil war.  

 "The alleged issuance of passports to controversial foreign figures raises broader concerns about governance and national security," noted a report from the Sudan Horizon.

Kenya's government has not responded to the allegations, despite calls from opposition leaders and civil society for an independent probe.  

 Analysts warn that if unaddressed, the scandal could damage Kenya's international standing, potentially leading to visa restrictions for Kenyan passport holders.