Mike Sonko Claims Trump Has Lifted His US Travel Ban

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has claimed that US President Donald Trump has lifted a travel ban imposed on him and his family three years ago over corruption allegations, according to a statement posted on his social media account.

“Thank you President Donald Trump for lifting my travel ban to the US. Details to follow. Those who implicated me are the ones who are most corrupt in this country,” Sonko wrote on social media, tagging the US president’s official account.

The controversial politician has not provided any official documentation or additional details to substantiate his claim.

Sonko claims the U.S. president Donald Trump has lifted his travel ban.

The US Embassy in Nairobi has not yet commented on the matter.

In March 2022, the United States government banned Sonko and his immediate family members from traveling to the US, citing “involvement in significant corruption” during his tenure as Nairobi’s governor.

At that time, US Embassy Counselor for Public Affairs Eric Watnik announced that Sonko, his wife Primrose Mbuvi, daughters Saumu and Salma, and his underage son were all declared ineligible for entry into the US.

The designation also prohibited them from conducting business with the United States.

“The department has credible information that the former governor was involved in significant corruption when serving as governor of Nairobi. We determined that he received bribes in kickbacks in exchange for irregular awarding of contracts to his associates for personal gains,” Watnik stated when announcing the ban.

When the ban was first imposed, Sonko held a press conference at his Shanzu residence in Mombasa, where he expressed shock and insisted on his innocence.

“I am shocked and surprised. My wife and daughters have never applied or won any tenders while I was Nairobi governor,” Sonko said at the time, questioning why his family was included in the ban.

He also claimed political persecution: “I am being persecuted because I differed with the State over some issues. But I will exhaust all avenues of appeal and ensure I am cleared.”

At the time of the ban, Sonko was facing multiple corruption charges in Kenyan courts, including allegations that he received a kickback of Ksh 8.4 million from ROG Security Ltd.

The US government stated that the outcome of those trials would not impact their decision to ban him.

Sonko became the second high-profile Kenyan official to be publicly banned from traveling to the US during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, following former Attorney General Amos Wako who was banned in 2019.