A version of this article appeared on Nation.Africa.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested Nairobi County Chief Officer for Urban Development and Planning Patrick Analo Akivaga.
The arrest followed a Thursday morning raid conducted by detectives at his private residence in Syokimau, Machakos County.
During the search operation, investigators recovered approximately Sh65.3 million in cash stashed inside his residence and the boot of his motor vehicle.
The seized currency comprised Sh51.3 million in cash and an additional 113,000 US dollars, which is equivalent to about Sh14 million.
The anti-graft agency stated that the operation forms part of ongoing investigations into allegations of conflict of interest, abuse of office, bribery, and the possession of unexplained assets.
Akivaga has for years been one of Governor Johnson Sakaja’s closest and most trusted allies.
The high-profile arrest has laid bare the internal workings of a building approval system, which critics say has enabled illegal developments to flourish across the capital city, often with deadly consequences.
Akivaga heads the highly influential department responsible for urban planning, development approvals, and the enforcement of planning regulations across Nairobi.
The office oversees the processing of building plans, change-of-user applications, and development permits.
These regulatory functions have historically attracted intense scrutiny over persistent allegations of bribery and irregular approvals.
Investigators suspect that Akivaga received more than Sh170 million through numerous suspicious cash and M-Pesa deposits between the 2019/20 and 2025/26 financial years.
The commission alleges that the senior official has amassed substantial assets, which appear completely disproportionate to his known legitimate sources of income.
Beyond the large cash haul, EACC detectives seized a wide range of documents and electronic devices believed to be highly relevant to the ongoing probe.
The recovered items include several title deeds, motor vehicle logbooks, land and motor vehicle sale agreements, mobile phones, iPads, laptops, and official approval plans from the Nairobi County Government.
The suspect was taken into custody to assist investigators, with the evidence set to undergo further forensic analysis.
The EACC noted that the outcome of the forensic investigations will determine the next course of action, including possible criminal prosecution and asset recovery proceedings to claim proceeds of corruption.
The department Akivaga leads recently faced severe public backlash and political pressure following the collapse of a 16-storey building in South C.
The incident sparked heated debate regarding how irregular building approvals are granted for massive high-rise structures in areas with inadequate infrastructure, prompting political leaders to demand accountability from top urban planning executives.
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