President William Ruto has given AFC Leopards Sh10 million and pledged government support to improve the club’s training facilities as the team prepares for the new football season.

Ruto announced the support on Wednesday, July 15, during a meeting with AFC Leopards players, technical staff and officials at State House, Nairobi. According to the President, half of the Sh10 million will be shared among the players, while the remaining Sh5 million will support the club’s recruitment of new players.

“Players will get Sh5 million to sort themselves out and the other Sh5 million they can sign in new players,” Ruto said.

The President also pledged support for the development of the club’s training facilities, directing Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya to work with the club on plans for upgrading its training ground.

Ruto said the government would help develop the facility used by AFC Leopards, which the club reportedly holds under a 15-year lease.

“We will build you a training ground,” the President said during the meeting, as he outlined the government’s proposed support for the club.

The pledge could address one of the long-standing challenges facing Kenyan football clubs, many of which lack dedicated, modern training facilities despite competing at the country’s highest level. Ruto also said he would help AFC Leopards secure an additional Sh25 million in sponsorship support, a commitment intended to strengthen the club’s finances ahead of the coming season.

The Sh25 million is separate from the Sh10 million announced during the State House meeting and was presented as additional sponsorship support that the President would help the club mobilise.

AFC Leopards, popularly known as Ingwe, are among Kenya’s oldest and most widely supported football clubs. The team finished second in the 2025/26 FKF Premier League season with 64 points, five behind champions Gor Mahia.

The State House meeting came as the club begins preparations for another attempt at the league title, with player recruitment and financial stability expected to be important factors in its plans. Ruto said his administration views sports as an economic activity capable of creating employment and supporting livelihoods, particularly among young people.

The latest financial support is separate from the Sh10 million Ruto donated during AFC Leopards’ 60th-anniversary celebrations in March 2024. Attention will now turn to the implementation of the commitments, particularly the proposed upgrade of the club’s training facilities and the additional sponsorship support.

For AFC Leopards, the immediate Sh10 million allocation provides funding for both player welfare and recruitment, while the longer-term pledges could strengthen the club’s infrastructure and financial position if implemented.