The US has banned former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko from its territory over alleged ‘significant’ corruption dealings when he was Governor.
US Secretary of state Anthony Blinken said Sonko ban means, him alongside his family are ineligible to enter the country from now on.
His family consists of his wife Primrose, daughters – Saumu and Salma, and his minor child. All are ineligible to enter the US.
“The US has credible information that Sonko was involved in corruption when he was the governor of Nairobi,” the department said on Tuesday.
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“With this, the department affirms the need of accountability and transparency in Kenya,” said Eric Watnik, the Counsellor for Public Diplomacy at the US embassy in Nairobi
The department said the corruption dealings were out of kickbacks and irregular awarding of contracts for his personal gains.
Sonko was impeached on December 4 2020 in a dramatic fall from grace.
The colourful former governor of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, is now facing numerous criminal charges including several corruption cases, assault and terrorist-linked offences. He denies them all.
He is alleged to have embezzled more than 300 million shillings partly through the irregular awarding of contracts to friends’ companies that are said to have wired money to his personal accounts after receiving their payments from Nairobi county.
He was also recently accused of recruiting and arming a militia, procuring military clothing associated with terrorist groups and financing terrorist activities.
On February 24, Sonko lost his bid to suspend his prosecution in the Sh357 million graft case that is ongoing at the Anti-Corruption Court in Milimani.
Sonko US ban may have limited options to challenge, and is not time-limited.
“When he is designated, there are waivers unless there is significant evidence that will change this determination,” said Watnik
The department said this is a determination made outside a court authority.
“I don’t know what his legal options are. But the determination is based on the immigration law,” he added
According to the United States, the Sonko matter is not politically instigated.
“This is an immigration matter for the US. It is about the United States and how it affects the US and foreign interests.
“We are focusing on the harm done in Kenya and its democracy. The decision was made based on who we think is illegible to travel to the United States,” Watnik said.
The department said Sonko has no idea of the charges coming his way in the US ban but noted that once he receives that communication, he could appeal the decision to the Secretary of State.
The 45-year-old former senator, a flamboyant figure, known for his glitzy lifestyle, flashy clothes, chunky gold jewellery and eye-catching hairstyles was impeached for graft.
Shortly after taking office in 2017, he stormed the City Hall cash office and found Sh7 million. He always called himself a graft fighter and said he would wipe out cartels.
Then he blamed them and ‘State House cartels’ for his troubles.
Sonko had built a strong support base among the downtrodden in slums as he fashioned himself as the champion for the poor while senator from 2013 to 2017.
The Sonko Rescue Team provided ambulances, hearses and limousines for weddings. He paid hospital bills of needy detained patients.
Sonko and his co-accused are facing 14 counts ranging from conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, acquisition of proceeds of crime, conflict of interest, Money laundering to abuse of office.
During a court session in 2018, the Prosecution alleges the governor received an indirect private interest of Sh8.4 million from a man Fredrick Odhiambo over the hiring of heavy equipment.
Odhiambo was trading as Yiro Enterprises, ROG Security Limited and its director Antony Otieno Ombok alias Jamal.
They all denied charges of conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, conflict of interest, money laundering and acquisition of proceeds of crime.
The money was in respect of a contract for hiring heavy equipment. ROG is accused of having received it whilst knowing it was proceeds of crime.
Sonko is also facing charges of economic crimes, abuse of office, unlawful acquisition of property and irregular payments that saw the county lose Sh 357 million. He is out on a cash bail of Sh15 million.
In 2021, EACC told lawmakers that Sonko was among county bosses who accumulated wealth but cannot explain how they made Sh11.5 billion.
All this in one way or the other led to the impeachment of the ex-governor.
The embattled ex-governor was accused of gross violation of the constitution or any other law, abuse of office, gross misconduct and crimes under national law.
Sonko became the second governor to be impeached by the senators after Martin Wambora (Embu) and Ferdinand Waititu (Kiambu).
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