A public feud has erupted between former AFC Leopards chairman Dr. Dan Shikanda and his successor Boniface Ambani, after Ambani accused the club’s previous leadership of leaving the Kenyan Premier League giants in deep financial and legal turmoil.
In a detailed statement posted on social media late on Thursday, Ambani alleged that Shikanda’s administration engaged in “systemic looting” and mismanagement that left the club on the brink of collapse. He claimed that the former management mishandled gate collections, entered questionable training-ground deals, failed to clear hotel bills, and even allowed the club’s bank accounts to be frozen — nearly leading to the auctioning of its assets.
Ambani further claimed that AFC Leopards was now saddled with multiple court cases, heavy fines, and debts, saying these burdens had undermined both the club’s operations and its reputation.
Ambani: ‘We Inherited a Hollowed-Out Club’
Ambani, who took over leadership earlier this year, painted a bleak picture of the club’s financial health, asserting that he and his team had found an organization “hollowed out by insiders.”
He alleged that some officials in the previous administration collected gate revenues through personal M-Pesa accounts and signed unscrupulous contracts that benefited individuals rather than the club.
“This club has suffered for a long time. Together with the NEC, we shall fix all that mess,” Ambani wrote. “We have already begun addressing the liabilities and stabilizing operations within the first four months of our tenure.”
He also said his administration had appealed to former players and coaches with pending legal disputes against the club to adopt a “measured approach” as efforts to settle their cases continue.
“AFC will unleash its claws very soon. It’s walking stealthily… We are sharpening those claws,” Ambani declared in a symbolic message to supporters.
Shikanda Hits Back: ‘Facts Over Fiction’
In a lengthy response shared on Friday, former chairman Dr. Dan Shikanda dismissed Ambani’s accusations as “baseless” and challenged him to produce evidence to substantiate the claims.
“Facts over fiction any day,” Shikanda wrote. “Leadership is about fixing problems and letting results speak, not crying the loudest on Facebook.”
Shikanda denied any misappropriation of players’ salaries, allowances, or sign-on fees during his tenure. He insisted that all payments were properly accounted for and called on Ambani to name the specific players, amounts, and dates if he believed otherwise.
The former chairman acknowledged that the club had faced numerous legal cases but said most of them predated his administration.
“When I took over, AFC Leopards had disputes going back to 2013 and 2014, including the widely cited Sejere case,” Shikanda said. “My team professionally closed more than 15 cases during my time in office.”
He also emphasized that a formal handover meeting was conducted, during which all financials, debts, and pending issues were tabled and documented.
Personal Jabs and Power Tensions
The confrontation has since turned personal, with Shikanda questioning Ambani’s moral authority to accuse others of corruption. He pointed out that Ambani’s brother had served on the club’s technical bench, first as an assistant coach and later as acting head coach, implying a possible conflict of interest.
Ambani, however, has maintained that his administration’s goal is to “rescue the club from years of mismanagement” and restore credibility through transparency and accountability.
Supporters, meanwhile, have expressed mixed reactions on social media, with some backing Ambani’s push for reform while others accused him of washing the club’s dirty linen in public.
Governance Challenges at Ingwe
The exchange between the two leaders underscores long-running governance and accountability challenges at one of Kenya’s oldest and most storied football clubs.
Analysts say AFC Leopards’ off-pitch instability has repeatedly hampered its on-field performance and scared away potential sponsors.
Neither side has yet provided documentary proof of their claims. While Ambani has listed alleged abuses and debts, Shikanda insists that verifiable records exist and can be audited.
Football analysts have called for an independent financial audit or a transparent report from the club’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to establish the facts and restore trust among fans and stakeholders.
Uncertain Future
As the leadership tussle spills into the public domain, concerns are growing that the infighting could derail the club’s rebuilding efforts. With court cases, debts, and internal wrangles piling up, AFC Leopards faces an uphill battle to stabilize both financially and competitively.
For now, the war of words between Shikanda and Ambani has shifted from the boardroom to the public arena — with both men appealing to the loyalty of supporters and the legacy of a club whose motto, “The People’s Team,” remains deeply symbolic in Kenyan football.
