Amos Wako

Wako was born in Kenya. He was educated at Kakamega School,[1] and the Alliance High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics at the University of London, a Bachelor of Laws at the University College of Dar es Salaam, and a Master of Laws at the University of London. He served in several professional organizations, including holding the position of Secretary General of the African Bar Association from 1978 to 1980, and as the first secretary general of the Inter-African Union of Lawyers. He is a member of the Faculty Board of Law at the University of Nairobi. Between 1985 and 1992, he was a member of the UN Human Rights Committee. He worked for Kaplan & Stratton from March 1969 and became a Partner from April 1972 to May 1991 when he was appointed Attorney General. Wako served as LSK chairman from 1979 to 1981. He was also held numerous positions in regional and global bodies dealing with constitutional and governance affairs.

Amos Wako has been the Attorney General at a historic and transitional period in the history of Kenya. Some of the matters dealt with are:

Oversaw the transition from one party state to a multiparty democracy (December 1991) and from one Government to another through a free and fair election in which the ruling (KANU) was defeated by the opposition (NARC) (December 2002). Piloted through Parliament the necessary Constitutional amendments and legislation including providing for a multi-party democratic State and setting up of an independent Electoral Commission. Chaired National Constitutional Conferences consisting of Members of Parliament, religious leaders and representatives of the civil society. Member of the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission.

Drafted the proposed new Constitution of Kenya based on the Constitution of Kenya Bill as drafted by the National Constitutional Conference and as amended by Parliament. This was Draft constitution was nicknamed "the Wako Draft", but failed miserably at the 2005 Kenyan constitutional referendum.

He kept his position as Attorney General through the transition from Daniel arap Moi to Mwai Kibaki. He is dealing with the Goldenberg scandal, a long-running corruption scandal that has lasted his entire time as Attorney General.

In October 2009 he was given a travel ban by the USA for 'deliberately blocking political reforms' following post-poll violence in 2008. Mr Amos Wako left the State Law Office on 26 August 2011 as per the new constitution which demanded him to leave office One year after its promulgation. He is Succeeded by Prof Githu Muigai.[2][3] He joined the Orange Democratic Movement, on whose ticket he contested the Busia senate seat in the 4 March General Election.[4]

On 18 November 2019, the US State Department announced that Amos Wako, his wife and child were barred for travel to the US due to significant corruption.[5]

• Corruption in Kenya
• Philomena Mwilu
• Nerima Wako-Ojiwa