Amos Wako
Encyclopedia
Hon. S. Amos Wako served as th Attorney General
of the republic of Kenya
for 20 years (from 13th May 1991 to 26th August 2011).
Wako was born in Kenya. He was was educated at Kakamega 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
.
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 Kenyan constitutional referendum, 2005
.
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 26th August 2011 as per the new constitution which demanded him to leave office One year after its promulgation. He is Succeeded by Prof Gitu Muigai.
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
of the republic of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
for 20 years (from 13th May 1991 to 26th August 2011).
Wako was born in Kenya. He was was educated at Kakamega High School
Kakamega High School
Kakamega high school is a four year high school located in Kakamega, Kenya. It was formerly known as African Government School Kakamega. It is categorized by the Ministry of Education Kenya as a provincial school...
, and earned a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
at the University College of Dar-es-Salaam, and a Master of Laws
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
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
University of Nairobi
The University of Nairobi is the largest university in Kenya. Although its history as an educational institution goes back to 1956, it did not become an independent university until 1970 when the University of East Africa was split into three independent universities: Makerere University in...
.
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 Kenyan constitutional referendum, 2005
Kenyan constitutional referendum, 2005
The 2005 Kenyan constitutional referendum was held on 21 November 2005. The proposed new constitution was voted down by a 58% majority of Kenya's voters...
.
He kept his position as Attorney General through the transition from Daniel arap Moi
Daniel arap Moi
Daniel Toroitich arap Moi was the President of Kenya from 1978 until 2002.Daniel arap Moi is popularly known to Kenyans as 'Nyayo', a Swahili word for 'footsteps'...
to Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki is the current and third President of the republic of Kenya.Kibaki was previously Vice President of Kenya for ten years from 1978–1988 and also held cabinet ministerial positions, including a widely acclaimed stint as Minister for Finance , Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for...
. He is dealing with the Goldenberg scandal
Goldenberg scandal
The Goldenberg scandal was a political scandal where the Kenyan government was found to have subsidised exports of gold far beyond standard arrangements during the 1990s, by paying the company Goldenberg International 35% more than their foreign currency earnings...
, 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 26th August 2011 as per the new constitution which demanded him to leave office One year after its promulgation. He is Succeeded by Prof Gitu Muigai.