I will sue US government, says Wako

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By Muthui Ndegwa

Kenya’s Attorney General Amos Wako has confirmed receiving a letter banning him from travelling to Unites States. Wako who has been accused by US ambassador Michael Ranneberger of blocking reforms in Kenya says he has always been at the forefront of reforming government from within and listed his many reforms initiatives.

"The ban was done in bad faith and only serves the interest of US and not in support of reforms in Kenya," he said during a press conference in his office.

He announced that he would take the war to the Obama government by suing in US courts for the action, which he considers unfortunate.

I am proud to be Kenyan and African and committed to reforms in Kenya," he said. Wako says he will not politicise the office of the Attorney General. He accused Ranneberger of not responding to requests by Kenya government for mutual legal assistance from US government in dealing with corruption. He said the AG's office does not condone impunity and prosecution of cases involves various actors including the police and not just the AG.

Wako says he oversaw the legal reforms that led to the introduction of multiparty politics to the recent formation of the grand coalition government.

US Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger had earlier confirmed that Mr Wako is the man that has in the past weeks been referred to as a senior Government official.

Mr Ranneberger’s confirmation ended long speculations and doubts on whom the senior official the US Deputy Secretary of State Johnnie Carson said could no longer enter the country.

The envoy had directed readers of his Twitter page to The Standard on Sunday, saying it had the answer. "Still wondering which senior Kenyan official has been banned from the US for obstructing reforms? The answer is…" he then tells readers to get the answer from The Standard on Sunday.