A simmering venue dispute has erupted ahead of Shabana FC’s high-profile SportPesa League (Kenya Premier League) clash against Gor Mahia, after the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) moved the January fixture from Gusii Stadium in Kisii County to Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, in Nairobi County.
The Gusii-based club have come out strongly against the decision, arguing that it undermines fairness and sporting integrity, while Gor Mahia officials have defended the move on security grounds, citing lessons from past crowd trouble.
In a detailed statement, Shabana FC protested FKF’s handling of the matter, insisting that they were neither consulted nor officially informed about the change of venue.
According to the club, the fixture was originally scheduled for Gusii Stadium, their registered home ground. They have questioned why a match in which they are the designated home team has been relocated to Kasarani, a venue they argue effectively serves as Gor Mahia’s home.
“Kasarani Stadium and Nyayo Stadium are officially registered home grounds for Gor Mahia FC. In this case, Shabana FC is the home team, not Gor Mahia. It is unacceptable for our home fixture to be changed unilaterally and relocated to our opponent’s home ground without prior notice, justification, or consultation,” the club stated.
Shabana further claimed that the decision violates the principles of fairness and transparency that should underpin league administration.
“That move and action lack fairness, transparency, and the integrity of competition. Football is a game of fairness, and its administration should not be handled with fear or favouritism towards any team,” the statement added.
Crucially, the club maintains that, in the absence of official communication from FKF explaining the relocation, they still recognise Gusii Stadium as the legitimate venue for the match.
“Our match against Gor Mahia remains scheduled to be played at Gusii Stadium, which is our registered home ground, as we have not received any official communication outlining the reasons for the change of venue,” Shabana insisted.
On the other side of the debate, Gor Mahia vice president Sally Bolo has publicly defended FKF’s decision, framing it as a matter of governance, safety, and protection of the league’s image.
“For the love of the game, facts must guide the conversation,” Bolo said, emphasising that FKF has a clear mandate to safeguard the league brand and ensure the safety of players, officials, fans, and property.
She referenced the last meeting between the two sides at Gusii Stadium, where crowd disturbances and security lapses were widely reported.
“The last time Shabana FC hosted Gor Mahia at Gusii Stadium, there were evident security lapses that exposed away fans, officials, and members to real danger. That experience cannot be wished away. Football cannot be administered on hope; it must be administered on lessons learned,” she said.
Bolo argued that FKF would be negligent to allow a repeat of such incidents, stressing that safety must take precedence over venue entitlement.
“There is no responsible scenario in which FKF would allow a repeat of events that place lives and property at risk. Safety is non-negotiable,” she added.
In her view, staging the match in Nairobi – either at Kasarani or Nyayo Stadium – reflects responsible leadership and foresight, given the high-risk nature of fixtures involving Gor Mahia, who consistently draw large, passionate crowds across the country.
She went further to suggest that Shabana should proactively secure one of the two Nairobi venues, which she believes are better equipped to handle such matches.
“This is not about advantage. This is not about fear. This is about governance, responsibility, and respect for the game,” Bolo concluded.
The standoff highlights a recurring challenge in Kenyan football: balancing home advantage and competitive fairness with security realities, especially in matches involving the league’s most supported clubs. Gor Mahia fixtures, particularly away games, have often tested stadium infrastructure and crowd management systems.
As FKF remains silent publicly on the specifics of the decision, the impasse raises critical questions about consultation, communication, and consistency in league governance.
With the match looming, all eyes will be on whether FKF can broker a compromise that addresses Shabana’s concerns while satisfying the federation’s duty to ensure safety – without further inflaming tensions in an already charged fixture.
