BREAKING: Another Top Government Official in Trouble as Security Raids His Home, Billions in Cash Are Recovered

Kenya’s Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested Nairobi County Chief Officer for Urban Development and Planning Patrick Analo Akivaga after detectives recovered millions of shillings in cash during searches at his residence and vehicle.

The arrest followed an operation conducted on Thursday as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of conflict of interest, abuse of office, bribery, and possession of unexplained wealth involving the senior county official.

In a statement, the anti-graft agency said investigators suspect Akivaga received more than KSh170 million through numerous suspicious cash and mobile money deposits between the 2019/20 and 2025/26 financial years.

“The Commission is investigating allegations of conflict of interest, abuse of office, bribery, and possession of unexplained assets against Mr Patrick Analo Akivaga,” EACC said.

According to the commission, preliminary findings suggest the Nairobi official accumulated substantial assets that appear disproportionate to his known legitimate sources of income, raising concerns about possible illicit enrichment.

During Thursday’s operation, detectives searched Akivaga’s residence in Syokimau, a suburb of Nairobi, and his motor vehicle, recovering large sums of cash and other materials believed to be relevant to the investigation.

The seized items are expected to form part of the evidence as investigators seek to establish the source of the funds and determine whether they are linked to corruption-related activities.

Akivaga was subsequently taken into custody and is expected to assist investigators as inquiries continue.

The Urban Development and Planning Department is among the most influential offices within Nairobi County, overseeing development approvals, planning permissions, land-use changes, and enforcement of urban planning regulations across the Kenyan capital.

The arrest marks a significant escalation in investigations into alleged corruption within Nairobi County, particularly in departments responsible for permits, approvals, and regulatory functions that have historically attracted graft allegations.

EACC said the evidence collected during the operation will undergo forensic analysis before a decision is made on possible criminal charges and asset recovery proceedings.

“Upon conclusion of the investigations, the findings will inform appropriate action, including prosecution and the recovery of unexplained wealth and proceeds of corruption,” the commission said.

The operation forms part of the anti-graft agency’s broader crackdown on corruption and illicit enrichment among public officials, with increasing emphasis on unexplained wealth investigations and asset recovery.

The case has drawn attention across East Africa, where authorities have intensified efforts to investigate corruption and recover assets believed to have been acquired through abuse of public office. In Uganda, recent anti-corruption investigations targeting senior government officials also led to high-profile raids in which investigators reportedly recovered large sums of cash and seized luxury vehicles worth billions of shillings, fueling public debate over accountability and unexplained wealth among public servants.