President William Ruto was notably absent on Thursday as Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy “Lulu” Muteke, were laid to rest in Harare, despite their widely publicized close relationship.
The couple was buried side by side at Sahwira Glen Forest Memorial Park, where thousands of mourners gathered for the high-profile funeral.
Chivayo had repeatedly described Ruto as his “dear friend, elder brother, and father,” while the two had been seen together at several events in Kenya. In August, Chivayo and Lucy attended the traditional engagement ceremony of Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto, in Kilgoris, Narok County.
Their last confirmed formal engagement was reportedly a private dinner at State House, Nairobi, on September 9.
However, Ruto did not travel to Harare for Thursday’s burial. Instead, he was at State House, Nairobi, where he presided over a graduation ceremony for 3,772 beneficiaries of the National Industrial Training Authority’s Recognition of Prior Learning program.
As of Thursday afternoon, there was no official explanation for Ruto’s absence.
Ruto had earlier mourned Chivayo following his death, describing him as a dear friend and praising his belief in Africa’s potential.
The funeral in Harare featured an elaborate send-off. Chivayo’s custom-made coffin was designed with a Rolls-Royce-style front grille and bore his “WMC 777” registration, while Lucy’s coffin featured a Mercedes-Maybach-inspired design.
Chivayo, 43, Lucy, and three others died in a helicopter crash near Marondera on September 30. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
