Busia Senator Amos Wako has come out guns blazing against the United States, accusing it of flogging a dead horse in their so-called fight against corruption.
Wako, who served as Kenya's attorney-general from 1991-2011, accused the US of engaging in potentially defamatory actions and of malice in targeting his family.
The two-time senator dared the US State Department to share with Kenyans all the particulars of his alleged involvement in "significant corruption" as stated in their travel ban announcement.
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"I was baffled and perplexed when out of the blue, without any notification given to me, the travel ban was announced on November 18, 2019, while I was at an important EAC event. Where is the protection? Where is the rule of law? Where is the constitutionalism?," quipped the Busia senator.
The senator also fiercely defended his wife Florah Ngaira and son, Julius, whom the US has also slapped with travel bans.
In their defence, the senator questioned, using biblical analogy, why his son should bear the guilt of father invoking — without quoting it — Ezekiel 18: 20 which states: "The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.”
"My son is an adult and well-known advocate and leading a very independent life. Even if I committed the sin of corruption — which I have unequivocally denied — it would be my personal responsibility. My wife and son should not be punished for my sins. Their mention was in bad taste," said Mr Wako.
In fact, the former AG, said the US refused to provide his lawyer with the information used to deny him entry in 2009 when they first revoked his A-1 diplomatic visa.
"On my instructions, my attorneys, in Washington DC on October 24, 2012, applied to receive copies of all documents relating to the November 4, 2009 revocation of the A-1 diplomatic visa issued to me on September 16, 2008," said Mr Wako.
But to his surprise the US took six months to issue a response, which said they could not furnish him with the information he sought.
Wako said that the only allegation against him was failure to prosecute corruption cases linked to the Anglo-leasing scandal in which tax payers lost billions of shillings.
But in his defence, Mr Wako said the investigative agencies failed in their duties and provided weak cases which, in his opinion, could not be prosecuted successfully.
The senator urged investigative journalists to find out why the US was digging into the past when, in his opinion, cases of corruption have been on the rise in the 10 years since his retirement.
"Find out why. I am confident of my own integrity and I have nothing whatsoever to hide," the senator told the press.
