Bandari FC is once again at the centre of national football debate after a dramatic shake-up ordered from the very top. Kenya Ports Authority Managing Director Captain William Ruto has dissolved the entire Bandari FC Management Board following a string of poor results in the Kenya Premier League.
The move, announced on December 9, 2025, signals zero tolerance for stagnation at a club long viewed as a symbol of KPA’s sporting ambition. With relegation fears growing and fans restless, Ruto’s decision reflects a broader demand for accountability, fresh ideas, and immediate results.
Why the Bandari FC Management Board was dismissed
Captain William Ruto revoked the appointment of the entire Bandari FC Management Board barely nine months after it was constituted in March 2025. In his official communication, the KPA boss made it clear that the decision was driven by the club’s deteriorating performance in the Kenya Premier League and the need to urgently re-strategize.
Bandari FC has struggled to find consistency throughout the 2025/26 season. The team currently sits 14th on the 18-team KPL table, uncomfortably close to the relegation zone. In the last five league matches, Bandari has managed only one win, a worrying statistic for a club that once challenged for continental slots.
This decline contrasts sharply with the 2024/25 season, where Bandari FC finished a respectable eighth. The regression under the current Bandari FC Management Board raised serious questions within KPA about leadership, planning, recruitment, and technical oversight. For Captain Ruto, incremental fixes were no longer enough. A complete reset was necessary.
The sacking also sends a strong message across KPA-sponsored teams that performance benchmarks are non-negotiable, regardless of stature or history.
Poor league results trigger decisive intervention
The immediate trigger behind the dismissal of the Bandari FC Management Board was the club’s on-field collapse. Supporters have watched a team that once prided itself on defensive solidity and home dominance turn fragile and predictable.
Losses piled up, draws replaced wins, and tactical confusion became evident. The December 7, 2025 league match against APS Bomet, where Bandari struggled again, only amplified pressure on the board. For KPA leadership, continued underperformance risked damaging the Bandari brand and undermining the authority’s broader sports investment strategy.
Captain Ruto’s intervention reflects a belief that structural failure, not just coaching or player form, lay at the heart of the crisis.
Who was removed from the Bandari FC Management Board
The purge was total and uncompromising. Those dismissed include chairman Stephen Toya, vice-chairperson Twaha Mubarak, and treasurer Ayub Nyata. Other trustees sent packing were Nurein Shakuwe, Cleopatra Taabu, John Kiptoo Maritim, Patricia Manthi, Vincent Kosgei, Gunda Kaneno, and Gabriel Mugendi.
Ricky Solomon, Salim Ali, Rajab Babu, Mohamed Madigi, and Wycliffe Anyangu were also relieved of their duties. Board of Trustees secretary Dave Buchere did not escape the axe either.
By clearing out the entire Bandari FC Management Board, Captain Ruto eliminated any internal factions or legacy decisions that could hinder reform. It was a clean slate move designed to remove excuses and internal resistance.
Tony Kibwana spared and handed full control
Notably, Captain Ruto spared club CEO Tony Kibwana. Instead, he placed full stewardship of Bandari FC in Kibwana’s hands, appointing him acting CEO with expanded authority. Kibwana, who previously served as the manager in charge of security services at the club, now carries the burden of stabilising operations both on and off the pitch.
This decision suggests that KPA still has confidence in Kibwana’s administrative capability and institutional knowledge. It also centralises decision-making during a critical period, allowing for faster responses in recruitment, technical restructuring, and player management.
However, the move places Kibwana under immense pressure. Results must improve quickly to justify the trust shown in him while the Bandari FC Management Board vacuum remains.
What this means for Bandari FC and KPA sports investment
The sacking of the Bandari FC Management Board goes beyond football. Kenya Ports Authority is one of the country’s largest sports sponsors, backing Bandari Queens FC, men’s and women’s basketball teams, and volleyball teams.
Failure at Bandari FC threatens to weaken public confidence in KPA’s sports programme. Captain Ruto’s action is therefore both a corrective measure and a warning shot across all KPA-sponsored teams. Performance, governance, and accountability must align with the authority’s standards.
For Bandari FC supporters, the hope is that this upheaval marks a turning point. For players and technical staff, the message is clear. Deliver results or face consequences.
Whether this drastic intervention rescues Bandari FC’s season remains to be seen. What is certain is that the era of the dismissed Bandari FC Management Board is over, and patience at the port city club has officially run out.
