Why U.S banned Former AG Amos Wako, wife and son

Just why did the U.S. government ban former Attorney General And Busia Senator Amos Wako from the country?

The answer is not clear, but there are hints in what U.S officials told Citizen Digital and in which U.S officials are providing those answers.

U.S State Department officials refused to delve into details but said that they generally looked at the nature of the corrupt acts, including any potential impact on U.S national interests.

While responding to our queries a US State Department official reiterated: “ The Secretary of State has credible information that Mr. Wako was involved in significant corruption while serving as Kenya’s Attorney General.”

The official added that that corruption inflicts substantial costs upon the economy, society and security adding that it can facilitate organized crime and saps confidence in rule of law and governance.

“This directly impacts U.S. national security, economic, and foreign policy interests, and…those of partner nations,” said the US official.

When asked why the US would ban him from entering its territory two times in ten years, Wako was at a loss to provide answers.

“Ask them, and please let me know,” said Wako.

The response to our queries was signed by an official from the “Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs” raising questions as to the context of the body of evidence against Wako.

According to their website, the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs was established in 1978 to “reduce drug trafficking into the United States from Latin America.”

It was 17 years later reorganized to its current stature with two key competencies including, “developing and implementing the architecture necessary for international drug control and cross-border law enforcement cooperation.”

The bureau’s website states that it “uses a wide range of tools to counter crime, illegal drugs, and instability abroad, including foreign assistance…sanctions, and rewards.”

The most prominent drugs case involving Kenya that is before U.S courts is the Akasha case.

When asked if he was involved in any way in a drug case facing the two Akasha brothers in the US, Senator Wako denied.

“ That I do not , and the little I know about Akasha, my name does not feature whatsoever at all,’ said Wako.

The Busia Senator has been named and has claimed ignorance on what his charges are.

“Let them share with me and also make it public for Kenyans to know the full particulars of the allegations of corruption against me,” said Wako.

But the U.S officials will not be sharing further detailed information.

This however puts Wako’s role in the building bridges taskforce under scrutiny. The taskforce is expected to make public it’s report next week, and officials are at pains to detach Wako’s latest tribulations from their work

“ Reports on Wako will not affect our report in any way. These are things that happened a long time ago,” said Paul Mwangi – Joint Secretary, BBI Taskforce.

The U.S. government on Tuesday banned former Attorney General Amos Wako and his family from the U.S for involvement in significant acts of corruption while serving as Kenya’s Attorney General.