Mr Sammy Sholei, an influential former Kenyan footballer who featured for Tusker and Harambee Stars recently had a bust-up with Billy Arocho, a football stakeholder, ahead of the Federation Kenya Football elections scheduled for February 2024.
Mr Arocho is a former private bouncer who served former president Uhuru Kenyatta and the Jubilee Party regime before shifting support to Raila Odinga and the Azimio camp ahead of the 2022 presidential elections; and finally decamping to President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in 2023.
The bust-up is believed to be about the FKF election and who the winning horse for the presidency is.
Mr Shollei, who’s served as FKF vice-president, openly backs Sammy Owino ‘Kempes’, a wealthy former Kenyan footballer based in the US while Mr Arocho is gunning for Mr Hussein Mohammed, the Extreme Sports Chief Executive, for the presidency.
In a recorded phone conversation, Mr Arocho could be heard attacking Mr Sholei for failing to answer his several phone calls and often dismissing him by claiming he was busy. Mr Arocho could be heard using several vulgar words in his attack and even went ahead to attack Mr Sholei’s wife. In response, Mr Shollei informed Mr Arocho that he had recorded the conversation and he was going to post it online.
The audio went viral and Mr Arocho claimed it was edited to remove some comments. Later, Mr Shollei published a post in which he defended his wife from Mr Arocho’s attacks in which he claimed Mr Sholei was simply being financed by his wife to live his life. Mr Sholei first saluted all women who financially supported their husbands and the family whenever financial issues arose, saying that was the true family affair. He branded such women as “the most loyal creatures before men in the whole world.”
“I have one very beautiful and committed wife, a wife that values family just like many others. If you attack that one that is my all/your all, then you have attacked the whole family. Billy Arocho, you attacked my family just because of football politics. You went overboard. You have hurt my family, you have disrespected my NyaUgenya. My wife has never participated in any scandals that I know of bro. If you have issues with me just because I have taken football’s political side, then deal with me.
If Tom Odhiambo attacked you online, then you should square it out with him and not drop it to us and everyone else….what you said about my wife today is really hurting. Don’t let emotions control you baby brother,” said Mr Sholei.
He also told Mr Arocho that he saw nothing wrong with being broke and a wife sponsoring her husband and family when they are down.
“I am better than that though and you know it. Your intention was to hurt me and for sure you did. My NyaUgenya is so sad. Right there, you messed up baby bro!” concluded Mr Sholei.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has announced that the FKF polls will be held in February 2024.
