Relief for Shabana as Gusii Stadium grace period keeps Tore Bobe at home

Shabana FC has been granted a grace period of two weeks to continue using Gusii Stadium for their upcoming Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) matches.

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Mozzart Sport understands that Tore Bobe fans will now have a window of more than two weeks to continue backing their beloved Glamour Boys at the iconic venue, which offers a temporary lifeline before the anticipated shutdown.

This follows a decision by the ASK Showgrounds management and board to extend a grace period to their clients and tenants to vacate the premises ahead of the planned demolition works, which will pave the way for the renovation of the 12,000-seater facility.

The extension effectively delays the full closure of the stadium, allowing Shabana to maintain their home advantage for a few more crucial fixtures.

Mozzart Sport further understands that the sea of red and white that has defined Gusii Stadium since Shabana’s promotion to the top tier will have the opportunity to witness key FKFPL clashes against Kakamega Homeboyz, Kenya Police FC, and Ulinzi Stars at the venue.

However, the final match of the campaign against KCB may be played away, with the timeline for demolition expected to catch up with the fixture.

“Thereafter, the stadium will be officially closed for a period of 9 months to allow for major upgrades and renovations,” a club source told Mozzart Sport.

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They indicated that the ongoing logistical arrangements are only temporary. The source added that most tenants are yet to relocate, a key factor behind the extension, with demolition set to resume once the area is fully cleared.

“The majority of the tenants are yet to relocate, so they have to clear the area before demolitions start. We are likely to play our matches this weekend, the upcoming week, and even against Kenya Police because the tenants have been given a grace period to move their properties before demolitions start,” the source explained. “Around two weeks only; they must first move before we start demolition. ASK Showgrounds gave a notice to those who had rented the spaces, so once that process is done, the work will get underway.”

Demolition works at Gusii had initially begun last weekend following William Ruto’s visit to the region, with one of the 13 stands earmarked for redevelopment already brought down before the process was temporarily halted.

Declaring the facility substandard, President Ruto ordered its transformation into a modern, globally competitive arena. “We are rebuilding and expanding Gusii Stadium, giving it a more modern touch that will elevate it to global standards. We have broken ground for a Sh1 billion, 14,000-seater stadium, featuring a FIFA-standard pitch and an eight-lane track, set for completion in April 2027,” he said, shortly after gifting Shabana a team bus worth Sh27 million.

Originally constructed during the tenure of former Kisii Governor James Ongwae, the stadium has undergone multiple renovations over the years, each consuming significant public funds.

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In 2024 alone, about Sh34 million was spent: Sh20 million on an inner perimeter fence, Sh10 million on a backup generator, and Sh4 million on improvements to the playing surface.

Despite these investments, the 12,000-capacity venue has faced intermittent closures since 2014 when renovation works first began.

During the 2021/22 financial year, the county allocated Sh96 million to the project, while former President Uhuru Kenyatta had earlier committed Sh150 million from the national government towards its upgrade, including improvements to drainage systems and installation of a tartan track.

Following joint funding from both the national and county governments, with the county contributing approximately Sh60 million, Gusii Stadium went on to host last year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations.

Earlier, during the launch of repair works in 2014, Ongwae had announced that Sh50 million had been set aside, expressing confidence that the project would be completed swiftly.

In 2018, the stadium ranked among the country’s finest after hosting the Kenya Inter-County Sports and Cultural Association games, and in 2019, it staged the 40th edition of the Kenya Communications Sports Organisation games.