United States Bans Sonko From Travelling To America

The United States Of America has banned former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko and his immediate family members from traveling to the US over corruption allegations related to abuse of office and bribery. Speaking at the US Embassy in Nairobi on Tuesday the Counselor for Public Affairs Eric Watnik said that Sonko’s ban from traveling to US is based on "involvement in significant corruption” during his short tenure at City Hall.

Watnik said the State Department has declared Sonko, his wife Primrose Mbuvi, his daughters Saumu and Salma, and his underage son ineligible for entry into the US. The designation means they have also been banned from doing any business with the US.

According to Wantik Sonko's corruption has been widely reported in local and international press and with that designation the state department reaffirms the need for accountability, transparency, and respect for rule of law in Kenya’s democratic institutions, government processes, and the actions of the public officials.

“The United States will continue to use all tools available to combat corruption and promote respect for human rights globally.”he addeded. He issued the communication on behalf of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Bribes, kickbacks

The Counselor disclosed that the department is in possession of credible information that Sonko received bribes in kickbacks from his associates in exchange for awarding of multi-million shilling tenders. “The department has credible information that the former governor was involved in significant corruption when serving as governor of Nairobi. We determined that he received bribes in kickbacks in exchange for irregular awarding of contracts to his associates for personal gains,” stated Watnik. According to the diplomat, Sonko’s corrupt acts undermined the rule of law, Kenyan’s public, government processes and public officials. However, he neither named the said associates, their nationalities nor disclosed whether they too have been designated as persons ineligible to travel to the US.

Watnik said the ban is based on provisions of Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act 2020. Asked whether there are other officials of the Kenyan government on the investigation's radar and whether Kenyans should expect a similar announcement soon, Watnik said he cannot disclose or speculate because the department conducts its investigations in private and makes them public after determination.

Since Sonko is facing an active case at the anti-corruption court in Milimani, the diplomat said the outcome of the trial will not impact the decision of the US government to ban him.

Currently facing Sonko is three different cases at the anti-corruption magistrate court in Milimani. They involve Sh381 million lost from the county government’s account through money laundering, bribes, conflict of interest and acquisition of proceeds of crime. He is also fighting accusations of abuse of office, making irregular payments, improperly conferring a benefit to himself and conspiring to commit an offence of corruption.

In the first file, he is charged alongside Fredrick Odhiambo alias Fred Oyugi trading as Yiro Enterprises Limited, Antony Otieno Ombok and ROG Securities Ltd for embezzling county government funds to the tune of Sh14 million. The former governor is accused of having conflict of interest in awarding of tenders by the county government and acquisition of proceeds of crime.

Watnik also added that although the US government does not have the financial value of the bribes and kickbacks, in one of the cases facing Sonko he is alleged to have received a kickback of Sh8.4 million from ROG Security Ltd through Anthony Otieno between December 27 and 28, 2018. The money was a benefit in respect to a contract by the city county government for the hiring of heavy equipment. This situation puts Sonko as the second Kenyan to be publicly banned from travelling to the US during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government over corruption allegations.

it can be remembered that in 2019, Busia Senator and former Attorney GeneralAmos Wako, his wife and son were banned from travelling to the United States over similar allegations.

“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,” the 2019 statement on Mr Wako indicated.