The United States, state department has recently banned flamboyant Kenyan politician ‘Mike Sonko and his whole family from travelling to the US over corruption while in office.
Mbuvi Gideon Kioko Mike Sonko was the governor of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. He is also famous with the name Sonkoree, Mike Sonko or simply Sonko. He served as the second Governor of Nairobi.
Nairobi was impeached in December 2020 over charges of abuse of office, a gross violation of the constitution, gross misconduct, and crimes against national law.
As per the US statement, when he was in his office, he “solicited bribes and kickbacks in exchange for awarding government contracts to his associates.” However, Mr Sonko on Tuesday denied the allegations and gave the statement that he was being targeted wrongly.
He has been appointed alongside his wife, Primrose, daughters Salma and Saumu and an unnamed minor child.
Mr Sonko becomes the second Kenyan president who is publically banned from travelling to the US during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s era over the allegations of corruption. that Pu
Some three years back, in 2019, Busia Senator Amos Wako, is a former Attorney General, was banned from the US over similar allegations with his wife and son.
The counsellor made the statement on Tuesday that Public Affairs ‘Eric Watnik’ at the US Embassy in Nairobi, Sonko’s ban from the US is based on “involvement in significant corruption” during the short tenure at City Hall.
Bribes, kickbacks
The Counselor disclosed that the department has credible information that Sonko received bribes in kickbacks from his associates to award multimillion-shilling tenders.
The department contains credible information that the former governor was involved in significant corruption when they served as a governor of Nairobi. We investigated that he received bribes in kickbacks in exchange for irregular contract awarding to his associates for personal gains, stated Watnik.
As per the diplomat, Sonko’s corrupt acts undermined the rule of law, Kenyan’s public, government processes and public officials.
Sonko is also facing an active case of corruption court in Milimani. The diplomat stated that the trial outcome would not impact the decision of the US administration to ban him.