AFC Leopards chairman Boniface Ambani has taken center stage following the latest Mashemeji Derby, delivering a strong and uncompromising reaction after his side fell 1-0 to Gor Mahia at Nyayo National Stadium.
While the result handed Gor Mahia bragging rights in Kenya’s fiercest football rivalry, it was Ambani’s post-match remarks that have surprised many football lovers, once again throwing the spotlight on the state of officiating in Kenyan football.
Ambani: “We must fix officiating ”
Posting on his social media after the match, Boniface Ambani did not hold back, openly questioning key refereeing decisions that he believes influenced the outcome of the game.
In a visibly frustrated tone, Ambani pointed to controversial moments during the match, arguing that such calls continue to undermine fair competition and erode confidence in the league.
His reaction echoes growing concerns among fans, players, and administrators who feel that poor officiating has become a persistent issue, from grassroots football to the top tier.
Full Ambani statement on social media
“FKF kazi yenu ni kupigania tuu pesa zinaingia kwa federation kutoka FIFA, CAF, Gava, etc. Hakuna kitu ingine ya maaana mnafanya to improve the levels of officiating and football in this country. Hiyo ndio mnajua zaidi….
You’ll call for meetings from all the branches country wide, spend millions in them, but you’ll never fix the big monster in our football… Poor officiating.
You’ve turned your refs into match fixers. Fix the monster in these leagues or just ship out. The monster is poor refereeing from grassroots levels to the top leagues. Mko tuu.
The moment your officials get escorted from stadiums under a tight police security, get bolted with bottles etc that’s the time to understand where our football is. It has been going on for a long time. Mko tuu.
Mnapanga vile sasa pesa itaingia ya AFCON sasa mmalizane nayo… This is a FIFA ref, and see what happened yesterday. Boss I will never mince my words.
We shall one day fix the menace hapo federation… You’ve never formed committees to deal with this monster. Committees, discussions are all about who is aligning with who. Nonsense.
Who is the boss at the federation, who is a boss at the branch levels etc and who is not. Come on. Hussein, and Co, fix this menace ama uende nyumbani bwaaaana.
#IpoSiku
#shisenoisastate
#shisenosfinest
#dukeofshiseno”
Match Context: Gor Mahia Edge it
On the pitch, Gor Mahia delivered a disciplined performance to secure a narrow 1-0 victory over AFC Leopards.
Alpha Onyango proved decisive, scoring the only goal of the match and leading from midfield with an impressive all-round display. Gor Mahia controlled large spells of the game, limiting Leopards’ attacking threat and managing the tempo effectively.
However, the football itself has been somewhat overshadowed by the controversy surrounding officiating decisions.
Tension boils over
The intensity of the derby extended beyond the pitch. At full-time, match officials required heavy security escort from the stadium, highlighting the level of dissatisfaction among supporters.
For Ambani, this is a clear signal that deeper structural issues must be addressed.
His remarks suggest a growing impatience within club leadership, as stakeholders increasingly demand accountability and reforms from Football Kenya Federation.
A wider problem in Kenyan Football
Ambani’s outburst has reignited a broader conversation about the standards of refereeing in the country.
Critics argue that without urgent intervention, through better training, transparent systems, and stronger oversight, the credibility of competitions will continue to suffer.
The Mashemeji Derby, often a showcase of Kenyan football’s best, instead exposed what many are now calling a “systemic problem.”
What Next?
As Gor Mahia celebrate another crucial derby win, the pressure now shifts to Football Kenya Federation to respond to the growing criticism.
Whether this latest controversy sparks real change remains to be seen.
