This archive report was first published on 19 November 2019.
On November 18, 2019, the US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo announced that former Kenyan Attorney-General Amos Wako, his wife Flora Ngaira, and son Julius have been banned from entering the US and doing business with it due to corruption allegations.
The designation was made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and related programs appropriations Act, 2019 (Div. F, P.L. 116-6), as carried forward by the continuing appropriations Act, 2020 (Div. A, P.L. 116-59).
According to the statement, the law requires the Secretary of State to publicly or privately designate officials and their immediate family members involved in significant corruption.
Mr. Pompeo said, "Today's action sends a strong signal that the United States is a valuable partner in Kenya's fight against corruption. 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."
However, Mr. Wako may still be allowed onto US soil if he visits as a member of the Kenyan delegation to the UN meetings or if the UN invites him, even though his movement would be restricted.
