Former Nairobi Governor, Mike Sonko, has responded to a travel ban imposed on him and his family by the United States government.
In a statement dated Tuesday, March 8, Sonko accused the US government of playing politics, stating that he read mischief in the ban.
The announcement by the US State Department came just a day after Sonko made it clear that he would be seeking to recapture his Gubernatorial seat in the August 9 polls.
He stated that the US government was overlooking other major corruption cases in the country, citing the example of the KEMSA scandal whose investigations have never been made public.
"Why is this coming out a day after I said that I'll be defending my seat in August? Why are the biggest known thieves of COVID-19 and KEMSA being spared and they are the ones who have committed the biggest economic crimes in the country?" he questioned.
The former county boss also came to the defense of his family members stating that none of them received any tender during his tenure at City Hall.
"None of my family members was ever awarded any tender by the county when I was in office and it is in the public domain. The Embassy should come out publicly and tell Kenyans the truth.
"My wife and kids have never supplied even a spoon or toilet paper to City Hall either directly or indirectly," he stated.
In his response, Sonko also acknowledged that he was still facing some cases in court but he insisted that he had not been convicted as he awaits judgment.
He further hit out at the US State Department for focusing on him yet there were other pressing issues that were affecting the world such as the war between Russia and Ukraine.
"I've not been convicted on any corruption-related charges because the cases are still pending in court awaiting judgment," he stated.
Sonko's response came after the US State Department announced that the former county boss together with his immediate family were ineligible to enter the US.
"This designation is made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2021. Under this authority, designated officials of foreign governments involved in significant corruption and their immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the United States.
"The Department of State is also announcing the designation of the following members of Sonko’s immediate family: his wife Primrose Mwelu Nyamu Mbuvi; their daughters Saumu Agnes Mbuvi and Salma Wanjiru Mbuvi; and Sonko’s minor child," read a statement by the US state department.
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