A growing wave of dissent among AFC Leopards supporters is manifesting in increasingly vocal and disruptive ways, reflecting years of frustration over the club's prolonged trophy drought and persistent off-pitch challenges. The fan base, renowned for its passion, is now making its statements felt not just through chants, but through organized protests, pitch invasions, and public demands for accountability, creating a volatile environment for the club's new leadership.

The most recent expressions of discontent have adopted a more strategic approach. During a match against Kariobangi Sharks, a fan group known as Ultras 1964 displayed a large banner reading, “Winners don't give excuses.” Victor Milimu, a fan associated with the group, told Nation Sport that the club has become a “den of excuses,” with management consistently citing “rebuilding” for failures. This action signals a shift in fan culture towards more direct and message-driven communication from the terraces, with the group promising similar displays in future matches, including the highly anticipated Mashemeji derby.

However, these organized displays are underscored by more extreme actions that have had severe consequences for the club. On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Leagues and Competitions Committee expelled AFC Leopards from the 2025 FKF Cup. The decision followed the abandonment of their match against Mara Sugar on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu, when Ingwe fans stormed the pitch in the 89th minute to protest a referee's decision to overturn a penalty. The club, which has not won a major trophy since its 2017 FKF Cup victory, was also warned about the misconduct of its fans.

Underlying Causes of Unrest

The fan agitation is rooted in a cocktail of issues, primarily the team's poor performance on the pitch. The 2025-2026 FKF Premier League season began with a winless streak, including three consecutive draws, which immediately placed the new club leadership under intense pressure. Following a 0-0 draw with Bandari FC on Tuesday, October 15, 2025, agitated fans surrounded the team bus demanding answers, requiring police intervention to escort the team from Kasarani Stadium. Head Coach Fred Ambani acknowledged the fans' pain, stating, “I know the fans are impatient, and rightly so because they want results.”

These performance issues are compounded by long-standing administrative and financial challenges. In a meeting held in Mombasa between Thursday, October 9 and Friday, October 10, 2025, the club's Council of Chairmen (CoC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) met to address the growing unrest. Discussions covered the team's performance, financial constraints, inherited debts, and fan conduct. The NEC, having recently assumed office after elections on Saturday, June 29, 2025, which saw Boniface Ambani become the new chairman, requested patience from the supporters to stabilize the club.

Despite reporting a financial surplus of KSh 4.1 million for the year ending December 31, 2024, the club's financial health remains a concern. Chairman Dan Shikanda stated on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, that the club required a budget of KSh 150 million for the 2024/2025 season to manage its senior, youth, and women's teams. The club has also faced operational setbacks, including delays in the delivery of official kits and merchandise announced on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, due to supplier disputes over quality and incomplete deliveries.

A Club at a Crossroads

The persistent turmoil has led to calls for fundamental changes in the club's structure. A taskforce report recommended a shift from a society-run club to a Mixed Ownership Model, which would see a members' Sacco retain a 51% majority stake while the Board controls 49%. This proposal, aimed at attracting strategic investment, was slated for a vote at the Annual General Meeting at the end of March 2025.

While the club's leadership grapples with these systemic issues, it has also had to contend with acts of hooliganism. The CoC meeting in October strongly condemned violence directed at club officials and the technical bench, resolving that any member involved would face individual disciplinary action. This followed past incidents, including an assault on former head coach Tomas Trucha by a group of angry supporters after a 2-0 loss to Ulinzi Stars on Sunday, November 3, 2024.

In a bid to reconnect with its storied past and inspire a turnaround, the new administration under Boniface Ambani announced on Thursday, October 30, 2025, that club legends would be granted lifetime digital access passes for all home matches. The initiative aims to restore a sense of unity and allow legends to mentor the current squad. As AFC Leopards navigates this turbulent period, the impassioned statements from its fan base—whether on banners or through disruptive protests—serve as a constant, powerful reminder of the high stakes involved in restoring the glory of Ingwe.