President William Ruto’s gifting of Sh27 million bus to Shabana FC on Sunday marked a significant milestone for the Kisii-based football club.

The handover of the brand new bus, conducted at Gusii Stadium during the President’s ongoing development tour of Kisii and Nyamira Counties.

The bus is expected to ease the team’s travels for the Kenya Premier League fixtures, reducing players’ fatigue, therefore, boosting their morale.

For Shabana FC, the bus represents a symbol of recognition and renewed confidence in the club’s role in Kenya’s football.

According to earlier information shared earlier by the club officials, the bus is a double-axle Isuzu unit featuring high-end interior finishing designed to maximize player comfort for long-distance travel.

While originally designed for 65 passengers, it was customised to accommodate 45, allowing for extra legroom and VIP seating areas, similar to high-end coaches.

The bus, which is red in colour (Shabana’s home colour), arrived in Kisii town on Saturday from Nairobi accompanied by a section of Shabana supporters who had traveled to Nairobi to bring the bus home.

Hundreds of Shabana fans thronged the stadium to witness the unveiling of the new bus, saying it represented a major upgrade for the club as they replaced the old bus which was handed to them by the former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2020.

Shabana FC Secretary General Elizaphan Kerama extended his gratitude to President Ruto for giving the team a modern team bus saying it will improve the players’ welfare and travel.

President Ruto further launched the Sh1 billion refurbishment of Gusii Stadium to feature a FIFA standard pitch, an eight-lane track and accommodate 14,000 people.

The stadium is home ground for Shabana FC, with the upgrade expected to boost the team’s fortune as it would have a modern venue to play its matches.

“The Government is committed to strengthening sports and development by improving facilities and supporting local teams to compete at higher levels,” he said.

The six months project is set for completion by December this year and the construction will be overseen by the Kenya Defence Forces.

Shabana will have to seek an alternative venue for the remainder of the season and part of next season, with the President issuing Sh. 20 million to aid in match venue arrangements.

Gusii Stadium, owned by the Kisii county government, currently hosts Shabana’s home games and other lower league games.

Key improvements under consideration will include the expansion of the football pitch, upgrading of the running track, and other works.

The expansion had been delayed because the Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) offices had occupied about five acres within the stadium grounds.

However, the government has allocated funds to the ASK management to facilitate their relocation to pave the way for the expansion of the stadium.

Kisii Governor Simba Arati lauded the President for supporting the expansion of the stadium, saying it will boost economic activities for the local community and enhance Shabana’s brand prestige.

Several leaders in Gusii region accompanied the President during the ceremony including Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, Kisii Governor Simba Arati and State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary Stephen Isaboke who is the Goodwill Ambassador of Shabana FC, among others.

The Government’s broader agenda in sports extends to development of infrastructure, including the construction of new stadiums and the establishment of sports academies to nurture talent and provide modern facilities for athletes, as well as make Kenya an international sporting hub.

From humble beginnings in Gusii region, Shabana FC has gone full circle, becoming a symbol of grit, passion and perseverance in Kenya’s modern day football.

The team is proof that grassroots spirit can power a return of a club to the top tier football.

Shabana FC dates back to 1980, where it began as an informal youth side known as Olympic.

This small collection of talented players from the Gusii region might have remained a footnote in local football lore were it not for the intervention of a businessman, Mr Dogo Khan.

Mr Khan, whose love for football was matched by his business acumen, stepped in transforming a neighbourhood pastime into a structured club.

He renamed the team Shabana FC, a name inspired by his hardware business, thereby planting the seed for what would become one of Kenya’s most beloved and passionately followed football clubs.

The club’s ascent to the Kenyan football elite began in earnest in 1985 with their debut in the Kenyan Premier League.

During that season, they finished the League in the tenth place, a respectable position that laid the groundwork for future success. Building on that experience,

Shabana improved significantly the following year, climbing to 8th place in the 1986 season. However, it was in 1987 that the “Glamour Boys,” as they came to be known, truly made their mark on the national stage.

That year, they delivered a stunning performance to finish third in the Premier League, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the country’s two dominant powerhouses, Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards.

Following the golden era, Shabana experienced a prolonged absence from the top tier, enduring 17 years outside the Premier League, a painful absence that tested the loyalty and patience of a passionate fanbase.

That drought finally came to a dramatic end with the club’s historic comeback in 2023. Under the guidance of interim head coach Andrew Ongwae, the club has focused on re-establishing its top-flight credentials.

While the modern league presents a different challenge from the era of their 1980s heyday, the club’s spirit remains undiminished.

Shabana FC is currently fifth place in the KPL table with 43 points having played 27 out of 34 matches in the 2025/2026 season behind Gor, AFC, Police FC and Homeboyz.