Den of scandals: Arrest of planning boss adds another blot to City Hall

EACC CEO Abdi Mohamud addresses the media following the raid at the home of Nairobi County Chief Officer for Urban planning Patrick Analo in Syokimau, Machakos County, 4 June 4, 2026. [David Gichuru, Standard]

Nairobi County has been touted as the heartbeat of the nation. The economic pulse of the country is indeed the green city under the sun. However, the city fathers are pulling in a different direction.

Probe after probe, disobeying court orders and parliamentary summonses, hiding from law enforcement, and doing little to make life better for Nairobians.

City Hall is the epicentre of alleged scandals. Governor Johnson Sakaja and his right-hand men who have been the subject of court cases and investigations with the latest arrest adding another blot to a tainted image.

Development and Urban Planning Chief Officer Patrick Analo has become the latest senior officer to be seized, barely weeks after the court sentenced Finance CEC Charles Kerich to three months in prison and almost two months after police officers surrounded City Hall in a failed bid to arrest Sakaja

Analo’s arrest came five days after law firm sought Sakaja’s arrest for allegedly shielding Kerich over the jail sentence.

On Thursday, it was Analo’s day with the State over suspected graft dealings. Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives raided his Syokimau home where they recovered millions of shillings.

The recovery of the millions raised questions over the source of the money which investigators believe to be proceeds of corruption at City Hall where he serves as Chief Officer for Development and Urban Planning.

The man is in charge of critical department responsible for orderly urbanisation through compliance and enforcement; development control and approvals; and urban planning.

Recently, the Commission for Administration of Justice (CAJ) had recommended disciplinary action of him alongside four of his colleagues in connection malpractices that contributed to collapsing buildings.

And for days, the man was on the radar of EACC sleuths who raided his home before he stepped out of his bedroom early morning. The detectives conducted a two-hour search that led to the recovery of the millions.

He was then escorted to the Integrity Centre – the EACC headquarters for further questioning in connection with the source of cash. Later the Commission’s boss Abdi Mohamud issued a statement explaining why Analo was seized.

“The commission is investigating allegations of conflict of interest, abuse of office, bribery, and possession of unexplained assets against Patrick Analo Akivaga. It is alleged that he receives millions of shillings in cash and M-Pesa deposits," said Abdi.

Analo is suspected to have accumulated assets that are disproportionate to his known legitimate sources of income.

The commission said following the raid, detectives recovered Sh51,300,000 and $113,000, all totalling to Sh65,300,000 found in the house and in the boot of his car.

Other items recovered included several title deeds, motor vehicle log books, laptops, land and motor vehicle sale agreements, and approval plan, mobile phones, iPads, electronic accessories, and other documentary evidence.

According to Mohamud, upon conclusion of the investigations, the findings will inform appropriate action, including prosecution and the recovery of unexplained wealth and proceeds of corruption.

“This could be as a result of corruption, that the process may not have gone through the right procedure, and that is why you have the substandard materials being utilized and also houses crumbling or coming down, even as they are being constructed the whole process is corrupt," said the EACC boss.

The operation forms part of investigations into alleged conflict of interest, abuse of office, bribery and possession of assets suspected to be disproportionate to known sources of income.

In the recent past Development and Urban Planning Department has been on the spot owing to collapsed buildings linked to illegal approvals, and violation of zoning rules.

Among the recent cases was the building that collapsed in South C, Nairobi that was officially approved to 12 floors, but was illegally extended to additional floors. Two people died in the incident.

Analo, who at one point served as the Acting County Secretary, has been at the critical department for years.

On February 6, the CAJ, in a report, raised concerns about malpractices in the city planning and it said compromised the safety of residents while fueling corruption at the same time.

The Ombudsman asked Director of Public Prosecutions to initiate legal proceedings against Analo, Built Environment and Urban Planning CEC Stephen Mwangi, Assistant Director, Development Control Fredrick Ochanda, Development Control Officer Simon Omondi and Director for Planning, compliance and enforcement Tom Achar.

Following Analo’s arrest, a section of Nairobi Members of County Assembly (MCAs) now want the probe to extend to other senior officials.

Led by Korogocho Ward MCA Absalom Odhiambo, legislators said the latest developments pointed to deeper governance and accountability concerns within Nairobi County's executive arm.

They questioned how a public officer could allegedly possess such large amounts of cash concealed in various locations within a private residence at a time when many Nairobi residents continue to struggle with the high cost of living.

"Nairobians are suffering through difficult economic times. It raises serious questions when one individual is found with such huge amounts of money allegedly hidden under beds, in ceilings, inside vehicles and other parts of a house,” said Odhiambo.

His Ngei counterpart Redson Onyango linked Analo’s arrest to concerns that have long been raised regarding approvals of buildings within the city.

He argued that irregular approvals and weak enforcement of planning regulations have contributed to the collapse of buildings in Nairobi over the years, resulting in injuries and loss of life.

“The problem begins within the urban planning sector. We welcome investigations and believe anyone found culpable should be held accountable in accordance with the law," Onyango said. 

The MCA further called on investigative agencies to widen the scope of investigations to include other officials involved in the approval chain for development projects within the county.

Analo’s arrest has renewed scrutiny on the Urban Planning department, which plays a key role in approving construction projects and enforcing development regulations within the capital city.

Kerich was sentenced for failing to settle a Sh106.7 million legal fee to Kwengu & Company Advocates for services rendered on behalf of Foton East Africa Ltd, which is owed Sh142 million by Nairobi County Government.

The decree was issued on May 19, 2026 by Justice Francis Gikonyo who sentenced Kerich to jail for contempt of court.

The law firm was back in court a week ago, seeking to have Sakaja committed to civil jail for aiding Kerich to fly to Dubai against the jail sentence imposed on him. The petitioner accuses the governor of facilitating Kerich’s departure from Kenya to evade the prison sentence.  

Kerich has unsuccessfully sought to have the jail term suspended. Judge Peter Mulwa who heard his application on behalf of Justice Gikonyo, declined to certify the matter urgent and refused to suspend the sentence.

On Sakaja, Kwengu & Company Advocates has asked the court to find the governor guilty of contempt of court and commit him to civil jail, on the grounds that he knowingly aided and abetted the evasion of a lawful court order.

“The Governor is not a passive bystander to the contempt of Kerich; he is its brainchild, its catalyst and its principle author, having procured, sanctioned and facilitated both the non-payment of the decretal sum and the flight of Kerich beyond the reach of the committal warrant,” said lawyer Cliff Oduk.

On March 30, police officers staged a stake-out at City Hall where they intended to arrest Sakaja for allegedly defying Senate summons.

This after the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) directed Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to intervene after Sakaja repeatedly ignored summons to appear before it and answer questions regarding Nairobi County's expenditure for the 2024/2025 financial year.

"The Governor and his Chief of Staff were informed. The only honourable thing for him to have done was to go to the Senate, but he failed to do so. We will look for him and do the needful. It is for the dignity of the office that he presents himself," Issa Mohammud, the Nairobi Regional Police Commander.

According to police, the search for Sakaja had been underway for much of the day. He repeatedly evaded officers before they received a tip that he might be at his official address, but he managed to slip away again.

Mohammud dismissed suggestions that the late-evening operation amounted to a witch-hunt, insisting officers were acting within the law.

"This operation is legal. The Senate has powers to issue summons and we also have an arrest warrant. We will present the governor to have his day before the Committee," he added.

The following day, the governor drove himself to Parliament where he claimed that he failed to appear before CPAC in line with a directive from the Council of Governors, which had urged governors to boycott the summons over alleged extortion by some senators.

“I have appeared before these committees many times six times this year alone and about ten times last year. I have even responded to audit queries dating back to 2015, including those from my predecessors,” he stated.

Sakaja wondered why he was the only one singled out yet 29 governors had been summoned before the same Committee, with most failing to appear.

“It is wrong to single out one county or one governor. The drama we are seeing is not fair. The CoG is an institution just like the Senate, let the two institutions resolve the matter collectively,” he said.

In February last year, in a shocking move, City Hall employees dumped garbage outside Stima Plaza, ostensibly to recover debts.

The is after Kenya Power disconnected electricity at Nairobi City Hall and county facilities over approximately Sh3 billion in outstanding power debts.

In retaliation, City Hall staff blocked Stima Plaza entrances by dumping massive heaps of foul-smelling, clamped KPLC utility vehicles, and temporarily severed the building's water and sewer lines.