The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) launched a sweeping search operation on Friday, November 14, 2025, targeting the residence and offices of a senior Board member at the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), escalating a major investigation into alleged bribery, extortion of investors, and unexplained wealth within the regulatory body.

The dramatic operation—backed by valid court warrants—has sparked fresh debate over corruption within agencies mandated to protect consumers and safeguard Kenya’s markets from counterfeit goods.

In a statement, the EACC confirmed that its investigators were conducting the searches as part of an extensive probe into suspected economic crimes.

“The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission is currently conducting a search operation pursuant to valid court orders,” the commission said, promising a more detailed briefing later.

Court-authorised raid targeting wealth, devices, cash and documents

According to a search warrant issued by the Chief Magistrate’s Anti-Corruption Court in Milimani, EACC was granted sweeping powers under the Criminal Procedure Code and the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act to raid two locations linked to the official.

The order authorises lead investigator John Nyagara—or any other EACC investigator—to enter, search and seize documents, electronic devices and valuables believed to be linked to corruption.

The warrant allows them to obtain items, including:

• Laptops, desktops, hard drives, flash disks
• Mobile phones and electronic devices
• Cash suspected to be proceeds of corruption
• Sale agreements, transfer documents and business records
• Jewellery and luxury items
• Safe boxes
• Any materials deemed relevant to the investigation

The court also permitted the use of reasonable force, if necessary.

Warrant valid for 14 days

The search order, dated November 13, 2025, gives investigators 14 days—between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.—to execute the operation.

The matter will return to court on December 1, 2025, when EACC must file an inventory of everything seized and provide a progress update.

Non-compliance carries jail time

A penal notice attached to the warrant warns that any individual, company, or institution that obstructs the search risks:

• up to one year in prison,
• a fine of up to KSh2,000, or
• both.

The raid has triggered significant public interest, given ACA’s role in regulating anti-counterfeit operations in a market long plagued by fake products and claims of collusion with rogue traders.

As EACC intensifies its investigations, all eyes now turn to the commission’s promised briefing—with Kenyans eager to know whether this probe will expose yet another corruption network inside one of the country’s key regulatory institutions.