Banned Kenyan attorney general plans to sue U.S.

Kenya's attorney general said on Wednesday that he is seeking legal advice as to whether he can sue the U.S. government for revoking his travel visa.

Addressing a news conference in Nairobi, Amos Wako also confirmed he is the senior government official issued with a U.S. visa ban last week.

He said he would seek legal advice on American law before filing the proceedings in the United States on what he termed as defamation.

"I have not been engaged in corrupt actions which have adversely affected the national interests of the United States as claimed by the letter of revocation," Wako told a news conference late on Wednesday in Nairobi.

The letter of revocation, he said, was delivered to him on Wednesday afternoon.

"Although I am totally indifferent to the revocation of the visa and have absolutely no desire to visit the United States of America, nevertheless it is my intention to seek legal advise with the view of instituting legal proceedings in the United States," he said.

Wako's remarks came more than a week after U.S. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jonnie Carson said his country had banned a senior Kenya government official for blocking reforms.

Carson, however, withheld the name of the banned official only saying he was of "influence" and his duties required extensive travel.

Since the announcement, speculation has be en rife in local and international media over who the individual might be, with most fingers pointing at Wako, who is also the country's serving Chief Government Legal Advisor.

Wako said the ban due to "engaging in corrupt actions which have adversely affected the national interests of the United States of America" were off the mark and amounted to defaming him.

The attorney general said that he would seek legal redress in the United States, adding: "I will take the fight there."

He dismissed claims that he is an obstacle to reforms, saying that he has overseen changes in the country including the transition from a one-party state to a fully fledged multi-party democracy.

He said he has always "kept the fire of reforms within the government", adding that he is an "adviser and not a decision maker."

"During the period, I initiated an ambitious Legal Reform Program by appointing over 17 Task Forces which resulted in re-drafting of many areas of law resulted in much legislation which have already been enacted."

"The enacted legislation have all enhanced democracy, the Rule of law, Human Rights, Transparency and Accountability."

He rejected notions that he had obstructed reforms under Agenda4, saying that "if anything he had facilitated the said agenda."

The government chief legal advisor disputed claims that he has frustrated or obstructed reforms in his country and lined up seven page defense outlining his 'achievements' most of which he claimed were reform oriented.

He included overseeing the country moving from a one party state to a multi party democracy and the establishment of various commissions to review the constitution.

"I have actually facilitated the said reforms. Ask any members of the appointed independent commissions whether I have obstructed their work. In fact they will say that I have actually facilitated their work," he said in his defense.

"I am pleased to state that only yesterday (Tuesday), as a member of the Task Force on Police Reforms we handed over the Report of the Task Force to the President and the Prime Minister."

"I am particularly delighted and proud that as a member of the Committee of Experts, we have more or less finalized the drafting of the harmonized new Constitution."

"Are these the activities of a man who is accused of being anti-reform?" he challenged.


Source: Xinhua