President William Ruto has fulfilled his promise to National Super League (NSL) side Kisumu All Stars after donating a 33-seater bus to ease the club’s transport challenges.
The bus was officially handed over during a ceremony at Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Kisumu on Saturday, July 25, with the President’s son, George Ruto, presiding over the event as the chief guest.
George said he had been sent by the Head of State to deliver the bus, describing it as a major boost that would enable the club to travel comfortably for league fixtures across the country.
“This 33-seater bus will help Kisumu All Stars travel across the country to honour their NSL matches. President William Ruto remains committed to empowering young people and nurturing talent through sports,” George said.
He noted that he would engage President Ruto on the possibility of extending similar support to Kisumu All Starlets. George revealed that the club management had identified transport as the team’s biggest challenge, with players often struggling to travel for away fixtures.
Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron, who hosted the event, thanked President Ruto for honouring his request to support the club, saying the donation marked a historic moment for football in Kisumu.
According to Oron, the President agreed to assist the team after he personally appealed for support during the Eid Mubarak celebrations in Kisumu Central and later tasked George Ruto with delivering the bus.
He described the vehicle as the first bus ever donated to a football club in Kisumu, adding that it would also benefit other local teams whenever Kisumu All Stars are not using it.
Oron said he would continue engaging the President to secure a similar bus for Kisumu All Starlets and further appealed for the establishment of a football academy in Kisumu to nurture young talent.
“I was honoured to host Mr George Ruto as we presided over the handover of the Kisumu All Stars bus, courtesy of H.E. President William Samoei Ruto. When I hosted the President during the Eid Mubarak celebrations in Kisumu Central, I made a special appeal for support towards Kisumu All Stars FC,” Oron said.
“For many years, the team has struggled to travel for long-distance matches due to transport challenges. Today, that challenge has been addressed. This bus is more than a vehicle; it is an investment in our youth, sports development and the dreams of talented players across Kisumu. We thank President William Ruto for his generosity and commitment to empowering communities through sports.”
The donation comes at a critical time for Kisumu All Stars, popularly known as Otenga, which has endured severe financial difficulties since the Kisumu County government withdrew its sponsorship.
The financial crisis nearly pushed the former Kenyan Premier League side into relegation as the club struggled to meet operational costs throughout the season.
While the new bus is expected to significantly reduce transport expenses and improve the team’s logistics, concerns remain over the club’s long-term financial sustainability, with stakeholders calling for a stable funding model to keep Kisumu All Stars competitive in the National Super League.
