Busia Senator and former Attorney General Amos Wako has lashed out at corruption allegations leveled against him that led to his US travel ban. Wako has urged the Unites States administration to make public the alleged corruption he was involved in and come out clearly on his offences. The former AG, who served under former Presidents Daniel Moi and Mwai Kibaki has been barred from entering the US, together with his wife Flora Ngaira and his son Julius Wako, according to a pres statement from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Washington has pointed out that he was involved in significant corruption.
However, speaking to the press at parliament buildings on Wednesday, the Busia Senator dispelled Washington’s position on the matter, in his first public defence since his ban was made public. He denied any involvement in graft, pointing out that he doesn’t know what particular offence led to the ban. “..If indeed the United States of America is a valued and serious partner in the fight against corruption let them share with me and also make it public for the Kenyans to know the full particulars of the allegations of corruption against me..I’m confident of my own integrity and I have nothing whatsoever to hide,” he affirmed, adding that failure to do this will put into question the rhetoric about fighting corruption.
Given that his family has also been affected by the ban, according to US law which requires that designated persons and their families bear the price, he said they shouldn’t be part of the picture. “Even if I committed the sin of corruption, assume I committed it, which I emphatically deny, it would be my personal responsibility and my wife and son, indeed all members of my family should not be punished for my sins. I do not pretend to be Jesus to die for other people’s sins, I’m just an ordinary Amos Wako, punish me for my sins,” he said. He said the mention of his wife and son was in bad taste.
The former AG who was also issued a travel ban in 2009, said he has no desire to go the US, but he was still going after 2009 to the US because he was going due to United Nations duties under International Law Commission where he is a commissioner.