AFC Leopards chairman Bonface Ambani has ignited a far-reaching debate within Kenyan football after issuing a blunt public challenge to the country’s two biggest clubs, AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia, over their continued dependence on government-owned stadiums.

In an open letter shared on his Facebook page, Ambani described the impending closure of Nyayo National Stadium and Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani for 2027 AFCON renovations as a defining moment that should force both clubs to confront long-ignored realities. With the government expected to shut down both venues in early March, Ambani warned that the situation would leave the traditional rivals effectively homeless.

Calling on both clubs and their supporters to move out of their “comfort zones,” Ambani stressed that ownership is the only path to true independence. “When you have your own house, nobody tells you what time to wake up or sleep,” he wrote, arguing that without their own facilities, the two giants remain vulnerable to decisions beyond their control.

Ambani pointed out that AFC Leopards, founded in 1964, and Gor Mahia, established in 1968, command fan bases running into the millions, yet have little to show in terms of permanent infrastructure. “We have the masses, but we have not turned our numbers into something feared and respected around the world,” he added.

He urged fans, corporate partners and private institutions to be part of the solution, framing the moment as a rare opportunity for supporters to write themselves into club history. “You have a choice,” Ambani challenged. “Be part of a history in the making of the club you support.”

To underscore his point, Ambani contrasted the situation with that of SportPesa League side Murang’a Seal, who already boast Sebastian Park despite their relatively recent rise. “It is quite shameful,” he noted, pointing out that a newer club has achieved what the country’s biggest teams have not.

The debate quickly drew in voices from across the football divide. Former Gor Mahia chairmanship candidate Dan Oketch, who contested the K’Ogalo top seat in 2016, echoed Ambani’s concerns while proposing cooperation as a realistic solution. “AC Milan and Inter Milan share San Siro,” Oketch wrote. “It’s possible to do it together.”

Speaking to LTN Sports, Oketch urged the two clubs to capitalize on the government’s current goodwill, which he said is visible for the first time in years as the authorities renovate the stadiums ahead of the AFCON tournament that Kenya is co-hosting with Tanzania and Uganda. “The two clubs should reach out to the government and tap on the goodwill to do an exclusive stadium for football,” he added.

Oketch’s remarks shifted the conversation from rivalry to practicality, suggesting that collaboration could help both clubs overcome barriers that have stalled progress for decades. His intervention reinforced the idea that the current stadium crisis could serve as an opportunity for unity rather than continued stagnation.

As discussions intensified, fans raised questions about land near Kasarani reportedly allocated during the era of former President Daniel arap Moi. Responding to the queries, Ambani acknowledged attempts to follow up on the issue but admitted that the matter remains unresolved. “That land is shrouded in controversies,” he wrote.

With Nyayo and Kasarani set to close their gates, Ambani’s message has framed the coming months as a defining period for Kenyan football’s biggest institutions,one that may finally force AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia to turn conversation into concrete action.