| Amos Shitswila Wako | |
|---|---|
| Attorney General of Kenya | |
| In office May 13 1991 – August 26 2011 |
|
| Appointed by | Daniel arap Moi |
| Preceded by | Mr Mathew Guy Muli |
| Succeeded by | Githu Muigai |
Hon. S. Amos Wako (born 31 July 1946) 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,[1] 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.[2][3]