KITALE, Kenya — Heavily armed police officers staged a night raid at the home of contractor Desmond Shivachi before detectives summoned him for questioning in an alleged organised crime probe linked to Trans Nzoia investigations.
The operation, captured on video, shows multiple officers entering the compound during the night, marking a dramatic escalation in a case that has drawn national attention.
Formal Summons
Following the raid, Shivachi was formally summoned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to appear before officers at the Sub-County Criminal Investigations Office in Trans Nzoia West.
A requisition to compel attendance indicates he was required to report at Kitale Police Station on May 13, 2026, at 9:30 am to assist investigators with ongoing inquiries.
The police are investigating an alleged offence under Section 4(a) of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, 2010, for engaging in organised criminal activities.
The summons was issued under provisions of the National Police Service Act, which allows investigators to require a person believed to have information relevant to an investigation to present themselves for questioning.
The document shows Shivachi was served through WhatsApp and acknowledged receipt a day before the scheduled appearance.
Night Raid Details
The video shows a coordinated police operation at Shivachi’s residence during the night. Officers are seen entering the compound in numbers, with vehicles positioned outside.
Authorities have not released details on what prompted the raid or whether any items were recovered.
Previous Investigations
Shivachi has previously been mentioned in investigations linked to Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya.
In earlier probes into alleged procurement irregularities in the county, he was listed as a person of interest in connection with county projects.
Investigators had indicated they were examining tender processes and transactions linked to major developments.
Sh 1.4 Billion Probe Background
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is investigating alleged procurement irregularities and fictitious payments amounting to about Sh 1.4 billion within the Trans Nzoia County Government between the 2022/2023 and 2024/2025 financial years.
The probe centres on three major projects: the rehabilitation and modernisation of Kenyatta Stadium (Phase 1A), the construction of the Trans Nzoia County headquarters offices, and the construction of Tom Mboya Hospital.
Investigators are examining allegations of procurement irregularities, abuse of office, bribery, and fraudulent acquisition of public funds. The probe also includes claims of possible money laundering and accumulation of unexplained wealth among senior county officials.
Persons of interest previously named include Governor Natembeya, senior county officials in the finance, water and procurement departments, and contractors including Shivachi.
Natembeya Case Status
In March 2026, the High Court quashed corruption charges against Governor Natembeya, ruling that investigators had violated his constitutional rights during arrest and evidence-gathering. The court barred agencies from pursuing the case based on the same facts.
However, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has since filed an appeal seeking to overturn the ruling and revive the case.
