EACC clueless on Wako U.S ban over involvement in significant corruption

EACC clueless on Wako U.S ban over involvement in significant corruption

The ban on Busia Senator Amos Wako and his family from entering the United States over corruption seems to have blindsided the country’s investigative agencies.

While Senator Wako has been banned entry into the U.S over what it describes as significant corruption, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) as well as the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) all appear to be in the dark over the issue.

EACC is, furthermore, non-committal on whether it has any active probe or has investigated the Senator over graft, only claiming to be working with foreign embassies on mutual agreement on corruption-related cases.

It is however not the first time Mr. Wako has been banned from the United States: In 2009, while serving as Attorney General, he was slapped with a travel ban as Washington accused him of being a stumbling block to political reforms.

While the latest advisory from the U.S State Department does not explain the charges against Mr. Wako, it is suspected the ban stems from his role as Attorney General at a time the country was riddled with mega scandals like the Anglo-leasing scandal and the Goldenberg scandal.

The Busia Senator will on Wednesday make a statement in response to the ban which also included his wife Flora Ngaira and their son Julius Wako.

The U.S State Department, in effecting the travel ban, indicated that it was sending a strong signal that the U.S 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,” read the statement from U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Tags:

corruption United States attorney general Travel ban Mike Pompeo Senator Amos Wako

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