Golf Kenya President Philip Ochola Engulfed In Fraud Scandal

Previously Kenya Golf Union (KGU) chairman, Philip Ochola who’s currently the president to the newly founded Golf Kenya, finds himself in a heat of fraud claims tainting the image of the prestigious sport associated with privileged members of the society.

Kenya Golf Federation (KGF) was recently renamed Golf Kenya as the governing body. This was done so that the amateur golfing body reflects the collective representation of all the entities managing golf in Kenya.

It now brings together golfing bodies in the country such as the Kenya Golf Union (KGU), Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU), Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK), and the Kenya Golf Federation (KGF) with Ochola elected as the first President of Golf Kenya.

Least qualified

Ochola who came above other contestants in the election including; Gakuo Ndirangu and Mike Nyangi Itemere, Erick Nyongesa, Greg Gathumbi, Sarah Hoare, Mukami Wangai and Betty Mutua, has come under sharp criticism from elsewhere with allegations that he’s least qualified.

“What confounds both golfers and non-golfers alike is why a seemingly educated and sophisticated golf fraternity would repeatedly choose a man like Ocholla to run the sport. The burly and charming Ocholla is a people person who loves his drink and doesn’t hesitate to spend the golf union’s money to buy mzingas for anyone in his company any time he is at any golf club.” Anonymous email by insider to Kenya Insights reads.

Ochola, who has been involved in golf leadership from way back in 2005 as then Vice Captain and later on Captain of Nakuru Golf Club in 2006 before moving to Nairobi. His home club is Muthaiga Golf Club.

He’s been accused of favoritism and mismanaging the affairs of the sports. During the Africa Junior Championships held last month in South Africa, he was not only accompanied by five officials at the expense of real players who were only five, but was criticized for the alleged flawed selection of players.

Daughter of Regina Gachora, President of the Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) is claimed to have been added to the team despite being less qualified.

The management of JGF has also been criticized for locking out best suited young players and only left as a reserve for the super rich kids while being run by one family as a personal business enterprise.

Sale of equipment

Here however is the crux of the matter – The wannabe politician, Ocholla whose home club is Muthaiga Golf Club, sells golf course equipment for a living. His company Turf Machinery and Irrigation Limited is the regional distributor for an American manufacturer, Toro. He is therefore able to use his positions as Chairman and President of Kenya Golf Union and Golf Kenya respectively, to arm twist golf clubs to buy golf course equipment from him.

This comes with its own share of controversy as he is said not to be a very straightforward businessman. In a recent transaction with Royal Nairobi Golf Club where he clinched a deal through a financing company worth more than KSh. 20M, he failed to deliver the equipment and proceeded to forge the club’s documents to fool the financier to release payment.

Here’s the letter.

The matter is currently with DCI who have issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of Obtaining money by false pretenses. It is not clear why he has not yet been arrested more than a month since the warrant was issued.

The man has no shame; a few years ago, he charmed his way into being elected a board member at Muthaiga golf club during which period he used that position to get the club to buy a ridiculously expensive irrigation system from Toro. In typical fashion, he failed to deliver what he promised and as a result, was forced off the board. He was also compelled to refund monies to the club for the portion of the project that he failed to deliver.

With golf clubs filled with corporate and government leaders as well as lots of other intelligent and straightforward leaders in business, religion and other key sectors, why would a crooked alcoholic be their choice of a leader? How did this man end up getting to and staying at the top of golf’s leadership in Kenya?