This archive report was first published on 18 November 2019.
On November 18, 2019, the United States took a significant step in its fight against corruption by barring Kenyan Senator Amos Wako and his family from entering the country.
According to a statement by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Senator Wako, who served as Kenya's Attorney-General for 20 years from 1991 to 2011, was barred due to his involvement in significant corruption.
As stated by Pompeo, the designation was made under Section 7031 (c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2020.
This provision makes officials and their immediate family members ineligible for entry into the United States if they have been involved in significant corruption.
Senator Wako's wife, Flora Ngaira, and son, Julius Wako, have also been barred from entering the US.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated, “Today's action sends a strong signal that the United States is a valuable partner in Kenya's fight against corruption.”
He 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 US Department of State did not specify what corruption Senator Wako was involved in.
