Kenyan authorities are taking the first steps towards freezing property and other assets in the UK, Switzerland and other countries in a $1bn-plus corruption probe involving former senior government figures. Investigations under way since June last year have uncovered a link with the $3bn (?2.5bn, £1.7bn) alleged to have been channelled abroad by the former Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha, and his family during the 1990s. Officials conducting the Kenyan investigation in conjunction with Kroll, the international risk consultancy, said they had identified a "key Geneva-based individual" who was central to money-laundering operations in both cases. Switzerland has promised co-operation in freezing assets.