Row erupts at AFC Leopards as Boniface Ambani, Dan Shikanda clash
Boniface Ambani’s post, which has since gone viral among Ingwe fans, painted a picture of a club left on life support, debts piling, assets nearly auctioned, and morale at rock bottom.
A war of words has erupted at AFC Leopards, with former chairman Dan Shikanda and current boss Boniface Ambani trading sharp exchanges over the state of the club’s management and financial health.
The feud began when Ambani took to Facebook with an emotional post accusing previous club officials of running down the 13-time Kenyan champions through corruption, unpaid salaries, and questionable deals.
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The first-time chairman, who took office in June 2025, said he inherited “a broken club drowning in debts and lawsuits” but vowed to clean up the mess.
“This club was chewed silently because people were comfortable with the rot,” Ambani wrote.
“From unpaid salaries to players sleeping in lodgings before matches, it was a total collapse. Only four months in, we’ve begun fixing it all. The same people who watched the downfall now want to intimidate us. I won’t be shaken.”
Ambani’s post, which has since gone viral among Ingwe fans, painted a picture of a club left on life support, debts piling, assets nearly auctioned, and morale at rock bottom.
He promised that his leadership, supported by what he called “a competent NEC and CEO,” would restore dignity and discipline to one of Kenya’s most storied football institutions.
But his predecessor, Shikanda, was not amused.
The former chairman, who led the club for two terms before transitioning to his current role as FKF Nairobi Region NEC member, swiftly issued a rebuttal dismissing Ambani’s claims as “emotional theatrics”.
“Leadership isn’t about crying on Facebook,” Shikanda said in a statement. “It’s about facing challenges and delivering results. If salaries or allowances were stolen, give names, dates, and figures. Let’s separate facts from fiction.”
He defended his administration, arguing that many of the club’s problems, including legal cases, predated his tenure and that his team had resolved several of them quietly.
“When I took office, I inherited over a dozen court cases, some dating back to 2013. We handled them professionally and settled more than 15. We didn’t need social media drama to prove we were working,” Shikanda said.
He also accused Ambani of sensationalising issues already disclosed during the official handover. “You were present when we outlined every debt and liability. This newfound shock is nothing but theatre,” he added.
In a pointed remark, Shikanda reminded Ambani that his own brother served under the previous regime as assistant coach. “If there was ‘chewing,’ perhaps you should start your audit at home,” he quipped.
Despite the fiery exchange, both men appeared to agree on one thing—the urgent need to restore AFC Leopards’ credibility. Yet their public spat has once again exposed the deep divisions that have plagued the club for years, often dragging on-field performance into administrative politics.
And as Ingwe prepare to face KCB FC this weekend in search of their first win of the season, fans are watching keenly not just for goals, but for signs that their leaders can finally stop trading blame and start rebuilding a club whose roar has been silent for far too long.
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