PRESS STATEMENT
NED PRICE, DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON
MARCH 8, 2022
The US Department of State has designated former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko Gidion Mbuvi Kioko for substantial corruption. Governor Sonko solicited bribes and kickbacks in exchange for awarding government contracts to his allies while in office. His actions harmed the rule of law and eroded public trust in Kenya’s democratic institutions and public processes.
This designation is issued in accordance with Section 7031(c) of the 2021 Appropriations Act for the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. Under this provision, designated officials of foreign governments involved in major corruption, as well as their immediate family members, are barred from entering the US. The Department of State also announces the designation of Sonko’s immediate family members: his wife Primrose Mwelu Nyamu Mbuvi, their daughters Saumu Agnes Mbuvi and Salma Wanjiru Mbuvi, and Sonko’s minor child.
These designations underline the United States’ commitment to combating corruption and promoting the rule of law in Kenya, as well as building democratic institutions. We will continue to utilize all instruments at our disposal to promote accountability for corrupt actors in this region and around the world.
