Credit: Twitter.com  /  Former Kenya Attorney General Amos Sitswila Wako 

By Gary Raynaldo  /  DIPLOMATIC TIMES

The U.S. Department of State has designated former Kenyan Attorney General Amos Sitswila Wako due to his involvement in “significant corruption”.   According to the Department of State, this designation is 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).  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 and their immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the United States. The law also requires the Secretary of State to publicly or privately designate such officials and their immediate family members.  In addition to the designation of Mr. Wako, the Department is also publicly designating Wako’s wife, Flora Ngaira, and son, Julius Wako.

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

-US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo

Credit: US Department Of State /   Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

Wako served as the Attorney General of Kenya (AG) from May 1991 to August 2011.

Wako Sought To Sue US in 2009  For Travel Ban Placed On Him

Wako, Kenya’s then-attorney general in 2009,  threatened legal action against the US, after Washington imposed a travel ban on him.  Amos Wako admitted for the first time he was the unnamed official who was banned and accused the US of acting against him for “defamatory reasons”. – the  BBC reported.  The US said a number of officials were deliberately blocking political reforms following post-poll violence in 2008.   Some 1,300 people died in post-election clashes.

In a 2009 news conference Wako strongly defended his position.

“The attorney general has not in any way obstructed or stifled reforms. To target only the attorney general is therefore an American or foreign agenda.” Wako said.