The United States Department of State has barred former Kenyan Attorney General Amos Sitswila Wako due to his involvement in significant corruption.
The 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 also publicly designated Wako’s wife, Flora Ngaira, and son, Julius Wako.
According to the State Department, the action sends a strong signal that the United States is a valuable partner in Kenya’s fight against corruption.