Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and his immediate family members have been banned from visiting the United States. Among those affected by the move include Sonko’s wife Primrose Mbuvi, his daughters; Saumi Agnes Mbuvi and Salma Wanjiru Mbuvi, and Sonko’s minor child.
In a statement on Tuesday, Counselor for Public Affairs Eric Watnik accused Sonko of receiving bribes and kickbacks in exchange for the award of government contracts.
“His actions undermined the rule of law and public’s faith in Kenya’s democratic institutions and public processes,” the statement read in part. These designations reaffirm the commitment of the United States to combating corruption and supporting the rule of law while strengthening the democratic institutions in Kenya,” the statement read in part.
“We will continue to use all available tools to promote accountability for corrupt actors in this region and globally.”
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Sonko was impeached in 2020 over gross violation of the Constitution and other laws, abuse of office, commission of crimes under the national laws and lacking the mental capacity to run the county government.
“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.
“The action today is based on information available to us and we believe that the information is proven and significantly credible. It touches on corruption in terms of kickbacks for illegal awarding of contracts. I cannot get into hypothetical but it may not be affected by the court’s determination,” said Watnik.
Before his impeachment, President Uhuru Kenyatta had formed the Nairobi Metropolitan Services headed by the army general, Mohammed Badi to oversee various development agendas of the city.
Sonko’s nominee for the position of a Deputy Governor Anne Kananu would later ascend to power as the first female governor for Nairobi.
In 2019, Busia Senator Amos Wako (former Attorney General), his wife and son were banned from travelling to the United States over similar allegations.
Sonko is currently facing 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.
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