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.
Comments (24)
Well done USA. This krimino let all the other big kriminos free during his time as AG.
Weya zeya iz smok, zeya iz faiya amu teringi yuu!
Iam sure US State Department has no reason to lie.For them to ban Wako, they have credible evidence. The question now is,what will the Kenya government do about this corrupt individual?
It would be unconscionable and a beach of peoples' trust in the effort to fight corruption if Wako is not imprisoned.
Yes. The US (especially the FBI) "have credible evidence."
We want to see the thief economic saboteurs mwizi raila on the list too.Wetsngula,Joho,orengo waititu,n other lawyers.Also include deputy chief justice Mwilu
Uhuru + Ngina (both) + Beyondzerocorruption
And where is Arap Shamba?
"You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." Abraham Lincoln.
Would like to know how they arrived at the decision to bar one wife, and not the other.
He is only legally married to one. The other they are partners
It's about time. Who's got next?
Not to diminish Pompeo's effort, but last time I checked, Wako was not the most corrupt Kenyan. To impact Kenya's anti corruption war, one must sanction a slew of Kenyan top leaders including national and county leaders!
Wako and family can visit us here in Canada or go to Dubai. It's not the end of the world!!
@Kujipanga Kibowen, EU & Canada will follow. He will be left with China & Dubai.
@Kibowen, he is already barred from entering all Western Countries, including the EU and Canada. It is not news. It is just that it is only now being publicly aknowledged by the State Department.
Too true but he needs to spend his ill gotten coin in Kenya. Wajua watu wa Kenya have been misled into believing that you haven't arrived unless you go the US. They may need a reminder of the old commercial that encouraged people to visit Canada by saying "America borders on the magnificent, Canada". p.s. I have never been pulled over in Canada for DWB.
The decision to bar Wako, and the late Biwott, from entering the US, was made by then US Ambassador to Kenya, Ranneberger, ten years ago. It is not new. It has always been enforced, although maybe it is only now that it is being publicly acknowled by the State Department.
I think that it is easy to see the US Government logic. Wako 'enabled' Corruption. Without him, Corruption Cartels would not have thrived in the Moi Government, the same that they did not thrive in the Jomo Government, under then AG Charles Njonjo.
It is prestige to be known by Pompeo
Anyone noticed that the thieves children are all pursuing law...good luck recovering anything.
you made my day
you made my day
As long as Uhuru Kenyatta can enter the US and UK freely, the US ,UK and the European governments should SHUT-UP and SITDOWN.
ICC criminals are worse that corrupt Wako.
Aki si America ni ma busy bodies. Tuko kati kati ya impeachment inquiry. Ndani ya mix KABISA lakini hawaangalii hiyo. With the president being accused of bribery, isn't that corruption? Let Kenyans deal with their own wayward sons and daughters. For now they wanna embrace hin and eat nyana choma with him and re-elect him to the senate. Let them...TIK. This is Kenya