Shikanda has cleared the air as to why the club have yet to commence construction of their own stadium a year since the paperwork for acquisition of the land granted to the club by late former President Daniel Moi was completed.
AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda has shed light on why the club has yet to construct its own stadium, following the second postponement of the highly anticipated Mashemeji Derby against arch-rivals Gor Mahia due to the unavailability of Nyayo and Kasarani Stadia.
The postponement stems from ongoing renovations at Kenya’s two primary stadiums, Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, and Nyayo National Stadium, as the country prepares to host the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN).
This issue first arose in November 2024 when the fixture was initially scheduled but could not proceed due to similar venue challenges.
Shikanda has provided clarity regarding the status of land allocated to AFC Leopards in Kasarani by the late former President Daniel Moi in 1992.
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Reports have long indicated that both AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia were granted land to build their own stadiums and training facilities, yet no progress has been made on these projects.
Speaking to TV47, Shikanda explained the bureaucratic hurdles that have prevented the club from commencing stadium construction, despite stating a year ago that they were in the process of finalizing documentation.
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“The blame comes back to us on why we do not have a stadium. It started in 1964. I have religiously followed up on the situation regarding the land President Moi allocated to us.
“We completed the paperwork but were told the land is still under Sports Kenya, so we cannot get a title but we can be given a lease.”
Shikanda revealed that a meeting with President William Ruto, former Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, and Sports Kenya Secretary General Pius Metto during the club’s 60th-anniversary celebrations last March had seemingly resolved the matter.
“The President gave a directive to Metto, Namwamba, and the rest to come up with a Cabinet Memo so we could be granted that land through a cabinet paper.
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“The director general of Sports Kenya wanted us to be granted a 66-year lease, but the President asked that we be granted a 99-year lease, and that Shabana and Gor Mahia would also be included.”
Meanwhile, Shikanda also provided an update on the club’s efforts to secure training facilities, emphasising the club’s readiness to develop infrastructure if given the necessary approvals.
“We have the capacity to build a stadium. Once we acquire that land, I am sure we can come up with a few strategies.
“There is also the possibility of co-owning stadia until you buy the other club out. We had gotten two of them.
“In fact, recently, we held talks with Starehe Boys Centre to take one of their grounds for training, and then the youth and women’s teams would play matches there, and collect revenue as we play them.
With AFC Leopards still awaiting the finalisation of their land lease, the club remains hopeful that the government’s support will pave the way for the long-overdue construction of its own stadium.