Kenyan Senator Amos Wako, Family Banned from Entering the US

Former Kenyan Attorney-General Amos Wako and his family have been barred from entering the United States over alleged involvement in corruption. 

In a statement on Monday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that Wako, who is the current Senator of Busia, was barred from the country over “involvement in significant corruption.”

“…the State Department designates former Kenyan Attorney General Amos Wako due to his involvement in significant corruption,” the statement said in part.

Pompeo said the designation was made under Section 7031 (c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2020.

“Section 7031 (c) provides that, in cases where the Secretary of State has credible information that officials of foreign governments have been involved in significant corruption, those individuals send their immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the United States,” the Department noted.

Senator Wako’s wife, Flora Ngaira, and son, Julius Wako have also been barred from entering the US.

“Today’s action sends a strong signal that the United States is a valuable partner in Kenya’s fight against corruption,” Pompeo added,

“Economic prosperity for all Kenyans is only possible by defeating the scourge of corruption, which also requires a functional, fair, and transparent criminal justice system.”

“The United States will continue to stand with all Kenyans as they strive to curb and punish corruption in Kenya,” it concluded.

The department did not specify what corruption Wako, who served as Kenya’s AG for 20 years from 1991 to 2011, was involved in.