FKF officials grilled by audit firm over use of FIFA funds
The reinstated Football Kenya Federation vice-chairman Sam Sholei and Dan Shikanda were Tuesday questioned by Fifa’s auditors KMPG in Nairobi.
The duo were summoned by the auditing firm in what is believed to be an investigation into the federation’s book of accounts and the use of Fifa development funds.
Sholei, who was last week reinstated into his post by the Sports Disputes Tribunal after three years in the cold, arrived at the KPMG offices in Westlands at 9.45 am and left a few minutes to 11am.
Leading the KPMG team was Leo Hattenbach, the company’s forensic director, and Patrick Onyango, the deputy Fifa development officer.
Hattenbach is based in Switzerland while Onyango is in Botswana.
ACCOUNT SIGNATORY
In an interview on Tuesday, Sholei said that it was “normal questioning” based on the fact that he had been a signatory to the FKF accounts.
“They wanted to know about the sponsors we have had in football and the reasons as to why they left. It was a normal auditing meeting and I think they summoned me because I was a signatory to the FKF accounts,” Sholei said.
Shikanda, who was elected as the FKF Nairobi branch chairman before being slapped with suspension under unclear circumstances, was more forthright.
“Yes, I went (for the meeting). It was an invitation. It is a routine Fifa exercise. They wanted to know how their money is used, but I told them that I have never come across their money, because I never handled money at FKF. They also wanted to know how the Fifa goal-project has benefited Kenya.”
He went on: “It was a nice routine interview and to me, it is encouraging because at least they (Fifa) are now following to know what their money does.”
The auditing by KPMG’s investigations comes amidst reports that KPL chairman Ambrose Rachier is in Geneva to meet Fifa officials.
RACHIER IN GENEVA
KPL and FKF have differed over a number of issues and have failed to sign the Memorandum of understanding (MoU) prepared by the Fifa delegation.
It has also established that Hussein Terry, the suspended FKF Nec member of Coast region, has also been contacted by the auditors.
The questioning of the football officials comes with just two days to FKF’s AGM planned for this Friday in Nairobi.
The AGM is expected to discuss a number of issues including giving a road map to the forthcoming football elections slated for November, as well as to review whether to re-admit KPL to the federation membership.
The AGM was rescheduled after the initial one set for Kisii in June aborted.