Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) carried out a dawn raid at the Nairobi residence of Patrick Analo Akivaga, the County Chief Officer for Urban Development and Planning, in an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption within Nairobi City Hall.

The operation, which was linked to probes into suspected graft, extortion of developers and irregular approval of building plans, saw investigators search the senior official’s home in a high-profile enforcement action targeting alleged irregularities in the city’s planning department.

During the search at his Syokimau home in Machakos County, detectives recovered a large amount of cash hidden in suitcases in the boot of his vehicle, mainly in bundles of Sh1,000 notes.

Preliminary reports indicate the haul is estimated at about Sh65 million.

“Today’s operation yielded valuable evidentiary material to support the ongoing investigations, including Sh51,300,000 and 113,000 US Dollars (approximately Sh14,000,000), totaling Sh65,300,000, recovered at his residence in Syokimau within Machakos County and in his motor vehicle’s boot,” EACC stated in a statement.

Investigators also seized financial records, electronic devices and computers believed to be crucial in tracing possible financial flows linked to the case.

The recovered money was taken into state custody as evidence, with forensic teams expected to verify the exact amount and examine its source. The seized documents and gadgets are also expected to aid investigators in reconstructing alleged financial networks linked to the suspect.

The Chief Officer is expected to be questioned at the EACC headquarters at Integrity Centre as detectives seek to establish the origin of the suspected unexplained wealth.