Sakaja Sends Senior Nairobi Planning Official on Suspension as County Unveils Anti-Corruption Measures.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has suspended Chief Officer for Urban Planning Patrick Analo Akivaga following his arrest by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption and unexplained wealth.
The decision was announced in a statement from the Governor’s office on Friday, hours after EACC investigators conducted operations linked to the probe.
Sakaja said the county administration respects the work of independent investigative agencies and will provide any assistance required as the investigations continue.
He stressed that public officers are individually accountable for their conduct and warned that anyone found to have engaged in corruption would face the consequences of the law.
As part of the suspension, Akivaga has been barred from accessing county offices, official records, and government systems until investigations are concluded.
To prevent disruption of services, the Governor appointed Dominic Mutegi, the Director of Development Management, to temporarily take over the functions of the office.
The suspension comes amid investigations into allegations of bribery, conflict of interest, abuse of office and accumulation of assets believed to be inconsistent with known lawful income.
At the same time, Sakaja announced a raft of administrative changes aimed at strengthening oversight within the urban planning sector.
Among the immediate measures is the dissolution and reconstitution of the Urban Planning Technical Committee, which plays a central role in reviewing and approving development applications across the city.
The county government has already reached out to professional organizations and regulatory institutions, including planners, architects, engineers, resident associations and utility agencies, requesting nominees to serve on the revamped committee.
In an additional transparency measure, Nairobi County has proposed the inclusion of an EACC liaison officer to support the committee and enhance public confidence in planning and development processes.
Pending the formation of the new committee, all routine development approvals have been suspended. However, urgent applications will be handled directly by the County Executive Committee Member for Built Environment and Urban Planning, Patrick Mbogo, in accordance with the law.
The Governor also announced that Ibrahim Auma Nyangoya will immediately assume the role of acting County Executive Committee Member for Finance and Economic Planning.
While reaffirming the principle that every suspect remains innocent until proven guilty, Sakaja maintained that his administration would not protect any officer implicated in corrupt dealings.
He further assured Nairobi residents that county services would continue uninterrupted as investigations and internal reforms proceed.
