Representatives of German champions Bayern Munich and Dutch giants Ajax have held talks with the Kenyan government in Nairobi as preparations gather pace for the January 5, 2027 friendly that will open the new Raila Odinga International Stadium at Talanta Sports City.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, who hosted the Bayern delegation, described the meetings as "fruitful and constructive" and declared that "Kenya is ready to welcome the world!" Tickets are expected to go on sale on Thursday, November 5, through the official Talanta Sports City website, although prices and the number of seats available to the public have not yet been announced.

A multi-agency operation

Mvurya said the government will run the event through a multi-agency approach that brings in the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife and the Ministry of Interior and National Administration. Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen, who also met the club delegations, pledged security, immigration services and travel facilitation for supporters expected to fly in from around the world.

The Sports CS added that corporate partners who will help stage the match are set to be unveiled in the coming days. President William Ruto, who announced the fixture in an address on Wednesday, said the friendly would be funded by the private sector.

Ajax confirmed the date in a club statement, saying it was proud to face Bayern "in the opening match of the new Raila Odinga International Stadium".

Kane, Musiala and a first trip to Kenya

The match will be Bayern's first-ever visit to Kenya, according to the Bundesliga. It falls during the European winter break, with the Bundesliga pausing on December 20 and resuming around January 8, while the Eredivisie returns on January 9.

Kenyan fans could see newly crowned Ballon d'Or winner Harry Kane alongside Jamal Musiala, Michael Olise, Joshua Kimmich and Manuel Neuer. The two clubs have met ten times in competitive football, with three wins each and four draws, their last meeting a 3-3 Champions League draw in December 2018.

  • Fixture: Bayern Munich vs Ajax, friendly
  • Date: Tuesday, January 5, 2027
  • Venue: Raila Odinga International Stadium, Talanta Sports City, Ngong Road
  • Tickets: from November 5 via the Talanta Sports City platform

Questions over cost

The roughly 60,000-seat stadium, which Kenyans.co.ke reports cost more than Sh48 billion, is expected to be a main venue for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations that Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania in June and July.

But the spectacle has revived debate about the price tag. The Standard on Friday questioned who will ultimately carry the cost of staging the match and of maintaining the facility, noting that "heavy questions remain" over the long-term financial burden. The government has not disclosed what, if anything, the clubs will be paid to travel.

Ruto has framed the fixture as a tribute to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, after whom the stadium is named, saying Odinga loved football and enjoyed it among ordinary fans in the stands.

Photos: The Star (Mvurya with Bayern Munich delegation); The Standard (Raila Odinga International Stadium). Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.