A storm erupts after a bumper gate
What was meant to be a triumphant homecoming at Gusii Stadium turned into a controversy that lit up social media. Shabana FC, fresh from a surge in attendance since their June 2023 return to the top flight, pulled in Kshs 3,157,500 from last weekend’s clash with Gor Mahia — the club’s second-highest matchday haul in recent memory — only for a leaked document to ignite accusations that officials siphoned off the takings.
Viral ledger prompts outrage
The circulating paper, shared widely online, painted a stark picture: it listed purported expenses of Kshs 2,830,000 for everything from players’ meals and management allowances to security, medical cover, ticket printing and media facilitation. The figures suggested the club banked a paltry Kshs 357,500, and singled out large sums allegedly paid to senior officials — a claim that provoked immediate calls for answers from fans and pundits alike.
Club hits back with a categorical denial
Shabana’s secretary general, Elizaphan Kerema, moved quickly to quash the narrative. In a firm statement the club described the document as fabricated, false and misleading, insisting it did not originate from Shabana FC and does not reflect the club’s financial procedures. The message was blunt: the ledger is not authentic and should not be treated as fact.
What the club says actually happened
Beyond the denial, Shabana sought to restore confidence by outlining its established financial practices. The Kisii-based outfit emphasized that it routinely declares matchday revenues and expenditures through official channels and that operational costs are met from legitimate, transparent income streams. On player payments, the club confirmed that all allowances had been settled, revealing a cumulative winning and draw allowance of Kshs 839,000 plus a Kshs 169,000 top-up, bringing the total to Kshs 1.08 million.
Reputation, transparency and the road ahead
The episode underscores how quickly financial documents — authentic or not — can inflame supporters and damage reputations. Shabana’s swift rebuttal aims to draw a line under the controversy, but the club will need to maintain clear, public accounting to rebuild trust and silence lingering doubts. For now, the scoreboard reads: a successful gate, a viral scandal, and a club fighting to protect its name.
