Sports PS Reveals Who Will Fund Bayern Munich, Ajax Match at Raila Odinga Stadium

Sports PS Reveals Who Will Fund Bayern Munich, Ajax Match at Raila Odinga Stadium

Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi has clarified that the government will not use public funds to finance the inaugural match between Bayern Munich and Ajax at the Raila Odinga International Stadium, saying private sponsorship will cover the event.

Mwangi’s statement comes amid public debate over the cost of bringing the two European football clubs to Kenya, with questions raised about whether taxpayers would bear the expenses.

Speaking during the funeral service of nominated Senator Veronicah Maina’s father, Nduati Kamachu, on Saturday, October 31, the PS maintained that a private sponsor had committed to supporting the event. However, he did not disclose the total cost of hosting the clubs or identify the sponsor.

“We are not using government money. We have gotten a private sponsor who has supported us to bring the two teams here,” Mwangi stated.

The match is scheduled for January 5, 2027, as part of preparations to open the newly developed stadium and strengthen Kenya’s profile as a destination for international sporting events.

Ruto Announces Bayern Munich, Ajax Match

President William Ruto announced the planned fixture on October 28, describing it as a major milestone for Kenyan sports.

“Ladies and gentlemen, come January 2027, we will open this stadium with a historic match between international stadium FC Bayern and AFC Ajax,” Ruto said in a recorded address.

The announcement generated excitement among football fans, but also sparked questions about the nature of the teams expected to travel to Nairobi.

Some Kenyans speculated that the fixture would feature club legends, while others suggested that reserve or junior players could be involved.

Mwangi has now dismissed those claims, insisting that the clubs’ senior teams are expected to participate in the historic occasion.

PS Confirms Senior Teams Will Travel to Kenya

The Sports PS said the government had approached the main teams of both clubs for the fixture and maintained that the arrangements were intended to bring their senior squads to Kenya.

“As we gear up to launch the Raila Odinga Stadium, His Excellency announced that we will have a team from Germany and Portugal, Ajax and Bayern Munich, that will be coming on January 5, 2027. I want to put it on record that the team that will be coming is the main team; I have seen some people claim we will bring the legends,” Mwangi stated.

He added:

“The team that we have approached is the main team, and it’s the team that will be coming in January.”

Bayern Munich is based in Germany, while Ajax is a Dutch club based in Amsterdam. Both have established international followings, making the proposed fixture a significant attraction for Kenyan football supporters.

However, the final travelling squads and other match arrangements will be important details for fans as the event approaches.

Stadium Opening Linked to AFCON Preparations

The fixture is also part of Kenya’s wider efforts to improve sports infrastructure ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which the country will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.

The government has presented the stadium project and the planned international match as opportunities to showcase Kenya’s sporting facilities and attract global attention.

Hosting established European clubs could also provide commercial opportunities for tourism, hospitality businesses and other sectors linked to major sporting events.

Nevertheless, questions about the sponsorship arrangements, total event costs and the specific players expected to travel remain relevant to the public debate.

Mwangi’s clarification addresses the question of whether the government will directly finance the match, but the sponsor’s identity and the full financial details have not been publicly disclosed in the information provided.

As the January 5, 2027, date approaches, Kenyan fans will be watching for further confirmation of the participating squads and match arrangements at the Raila Odinga International Stadium.

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Sports PS Reveals Who Will Fund Bayern Munich, Ajax Match at Raila Odinga Stadium