President William Ruto’s son George Ruto joined youths in dance performances during the Kisumu National Show on Saturday before officially handing over a 33-seater bus donated by the President to National Super League side Kisumu All Stars.
The event, held at the Mamboleo Showground, drew hundreds of spectators as Ruto joined a group of youth entertainers on stage.
Kisumu Show chairperson Rose Omondi welcomed George Ruto to the annual event, saying his attendance encouraged greater participation by young people.
The visit coincided with the official handover of the bus to Kisumu All Stars Football Club.
Speaking during the ceremony at Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Kisumu, George said he had been sent by President William Ruto to deliver the vehicle.
“This 33-seater bus will help Kisumu All Stars travel across the country to honour their National Super League matches. President William Ruto remains committed to empowering young people and nurturing talent through sports,” he said.
He added that he would discuss with the President the possibility of extending similar support to the women’s team, Kisumu All Starlets.
Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron, who hosted George, thanked the President for fulfilling a pledge to support the club.
Oron said he had appealed for assistance during the President’s visit to Kisumu Central for Eid Mubarak celebrations, after raising concerns over the team’s transport challenges.
He described the donation as the first bus to be given to a football club in Kisumu, saying it would ease travel for league matches and could also be used by other local teams when not in use by Kisumu All Stars.
Oron also appealed for additional support for Kisumu All Starlets and called for the establishment of a football academy in Kisumu to develop young talent.
Kisumu All Stars, popularly known as Otenga, has faced financial difficulties since the Kisumu County Government withdrew its sponsorship.
The club, a former Kenyan Premier League side, has struggled to meet operational costs and faced the threat of relegation during the season.
While the new bus is expected to reduce transport costs and improve the team’s logistics, concerns remain over the club’s long-term financial sustainability.
Football stakeholders have continued to call for a more stable funding model to enable Kisumu All Stars to compete effectively in the National Super League.
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