Dahabshiil is among 85 entities and individuals whose assets Kenya has frozen because they are "suspected to be associated” with al-Shabaab, Bloomberg reported on Monday.

It said the sanctions were introduced by the government on April 7 after the Islamist militant group, which is linked to al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for an attack on a university in northeastern Kenya in which at least 147 people died.

Bloomberg cited a statement from Dahabshill which read: "For the avoidance of doubt, Dahabshiil, including its Kenya operation, has no involvement whatsoever with the funding of terrorist organisations.”

Dahabshiil has "never previously been the subject of any investigation of any kind in relation to alleged terrorist funding,” it said.

Kenya’s police force on April 10 invited the listed entities and individuals to attend the National Counter-Terrorism Centre in Nairobi "to demonstrate why they should not be declared a specified entity.”

Two other groups on the list - Muslims for Human Rights and HAKI Africa - have also denied any links to al-Shabaab, Bloomberg said.

Dahabshiil is an international funds transfer company headquartered in Dubai. Formed in the early 1970s, the firm operates from over 24,000 outlets and employs more than 2,000 people across 144 countries.

Source:http://www.arabianbusiness.com/dubai-firm-appeals-kenyan-suspension-on-terror-funding-claim--588831.html