Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale has called on the county government under Governor Fernandes Barasa to offer meaningful support to AFC Leopards, urging that the historic club deserves the same treatment afforded to Shabana FC by Kisii and Nyamira counties.
Speaking passionately, Khalwale said the new constitution clearly devolved sports to county governments, making it their mandate to uplift local teams. He praised the Nyanza counties for standing with Shabana FC, saying, “When we wrote the new constitution, we specified clearly that sports would be devolved. I want to applaud the four counties from Nyanza for supporting Shabana FC, especially Nyamira and Kisii.”
However, Khalwale expressed disappointment over the Kakamega County Government’s focus on supporting rivals Kakamega Homeboyz, led by club boss Cleophas ‘Toto’ Shimanyula. “That is not what Leopards fans want to hear. Ingwe is our team and a symbol of Western unity,” he lamented.
The Senator emphasized that AFC Leopards, as a 12-time Kenyan Premier League champion, carries the legacy and pride of Western Kenya. He urged the county to channel resources to help the club reclaim its past glory. “Ingwe is a big team with rich history and maximum respect regionally and continentally. We should get back to our glory days of winning titles,” he said.
Khalwale also turned his attention to the club’s incoming officials, ahead of the June 29 elections, urging them to adopt a visionary and strategic plan. He emphasized the need for long-term solutions over short-term tournaments and friendly matches.
Additionally, the Senator proposed partnerships with secondary schools across the Western region to nurture young talent and build a stronger pipeline of players for the club. “Leopards must tap into talent from our schools to grow sustainably,” he added.
As the club prepares for a new chapter, Khalwale’s rallying call reinforces the need for structured county support, regional unity, and youth development to restore AFC Leopards’ place at the summit of Kenyan football.
