Kenya is preparing to host German football giants Bayern Munich and Dutch heavyweights Ajax Amsterdam in an exhibition match that would mark the opening of the East African nation's grandest stadium, the Raila Odinga International Stadium, on January 5, 2027.

Built at a cost of 45.9 billion Kenyan shillings ($353 million), the stadium in the capital Nairobi will host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The facility, initially known as Talanta stadium before its name was changed to that of Kenya's late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, is Kenya's most expensive and modern football stadium.

When President William Ruto of Kenya announced on October 28 that foreign-based football clubs will be the first to play on the pitch, there were mixed reactions. Those welcoming the decision said the high-profile football match will market Kenya internationally and, therefore, boost the prospects of attracting both tourists and international investors. The faction criticising the decision said bringing the Europe-based clubs to Kenya would cost the country a large sum of money, and it also suggests a lack of confidence in the domestic league clubs.

Former deputy president faults decision

Kenya's leading football clubs include Gor Mahia, who have won the country's topflight league 22 times, and AFC Leopards, who have won the title 13 times. These clubs have featured multiple times in the continental club competitions, with Gor Mahia winning the African Cup Winners' Cup in 1987, becoming the only Kenyan side to have ever won the continental trophy. Those opposed to the Bayern versus Ajax exhibition match said at least a Kenyan football club, or even the national team, could have played the inaugural match at the Raila Odinga stadium.

"How can a stadium be paid for by Kenyan taxpayers while the first match is played by foreigners? Why couldn't the government bring in one (foreign) team to play against Harambee Stars (Kenya's national team)? Then at least we would have had a Kenyan element. What has happened to our patriotism and national identity?" Rigathi Gachagua, President Ruto's former deputy, who was impeached in 2024 after an apparent fallout with the head of state, told Kenya's privately-owned television station KTN on October 28. Gachagua's sentiments reflected the thoughts of many Kenyans on social media.

Mike Okinyi, a veteran sports journalist in Kenya, says that bringing in foreign-based teams would offer more marketing value for Kenya than featuring domestic league teams in the mega stadium's opening match.

"Bayern Munich and Ajax football clubs are known globally. With no disrespect to Kenyan teams like Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards, I do not think they would attract a similar level of global clout like the two European clubs," Okinyi told TRT Afrika.

Across the four major social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok, Bayern Munich have at least 156.3 million followers cumulatively, while Ajax have more than 25.2 million followers. Kenya's Gor Mahia have at least 795,000 followers, and AFC Leopards have more than 715,000 followers. The glaring difference in social media support between the European and the Kenyan sides suggest the large fan-bases that both Bayern and Ajax command internationally.

2027 AFCON preparedness 'test' for Kenya

"Bringing in the two foreign clubs will offer significant publicity to Kenya. I remember immediately after the president announced the upcoming exhibition match, some German and Dutch journalists contacted me, asking for details about the Raila Odinga stadium and also requested for pictures that they could use in their reports. That is the level of reach Bayern and Ajax offer," Okinyi said.

The veteran journalist adds that the arrival of Bayern and Ajax players would also provide an opportunity for Kenya to "test" its preparedness for 2027 AFCON through examining the country's reception facilities at the main airport, security during matches, the state of the new stadium's pitch and training facilities, the accommodation facilities within Nairobi that offer close proximity to the stadium, and also the transport network that links hotels to the stadium.

"I do not think Kenyan-based football clubs would be able to offer all these valuable pre-international tournament lessons, if they are featured in the inaugural match at the Raila Odinga stadium," Okinyi said.

Ruto, in his address on October 28, had said that Kenya's new stadium is "world-class" and is able to host "the greatest teams in the world" for matches.

'Opaque' details

Okinyi says many Kenyans do not oppose contracting Bayern and Ajax to play in the country's premium stadium, but are concerned about the opaque details of the agreement that brings the two European sides to Kenya.

"First, people do not know if the two clubs will send their first-team squads, their team B, or veteran players. Bayern subtly indicated that its veteran former players would feature in the exhibition match, leaving many confused whether they would watch the likes of Ballon d'Or winner Harry Kane and top 10 finalist Michael Olise play in Kenya," Okinyi said, adding that it could be a strategy by both the Kenyan government and both clubs to build anticipation for the match by omitting the crucial information on team squads.

Bayern said on its official website that the match against Ajax in Kenya will "allow people to experience FC Bayern first-hand and to underline our club's international appeal." For its part, Ajax said the match will be the final part of its "preparations for the second half of the season" and also "a defining moment for Kenya on the road to the Africa Cup of Nations."

Even with the apparent opaqueness on team details, Okinyi observed that the Bayern-Ajax fixture in Kenya aligns with Bayern's winter break schedule. The German Bundesliga will take the winter break from December 17, 2026 to January 6, 2027.

Kenya says first-team members to feature in Bayern-Ajax fixture

"Therefore, its scheduled friendly match against Ajax on January 5 falls within the planned break. However, their Bundesliga away match against Borussia Monchengladbach on January 9 could mean that they may not feature most of their first-team members," Okinyi noted. Monchengladbach are, however, bottom of the Bundesliga table, while Bayern lead, a comfortable position that could ease pressure on Bayern's first team and incentivise it to play in East Africa.

Kenya's Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi emphasised that both sides will send their first-team members, and not the reserve squad, for the January 5 match. The government official added that contrary to several media reports on the funding of the Bayern-Ajax match, the fixture is largely sponsored by companies and allied enterprises that have partnered with the Kenyan government to fulfill the fixture's sporting and commercial demands. The principal secretary indicated that hotel companies and airlines are among the enterprises that have partnered with the Kenyan government for the top-tier clash. Initial reports in Kenya suggested that the government used at least one billion shillings ($7.7 million) to organise the match. Mwangi denies these reports on funding.

When contracting a foreign team to take part in an exhibition match, the host partner or country often arranges and pays for the teams' flights, provides hotel accommodation, arranges insurance cover for the visiting teams, and provides security during the teams' stay. Additionally, the host organises local transportation and logistics, provides a stadium and training facilities for the match, and also coordinates sponsors and advertising.

"I believe Kenya chose teams with significant international clout to reassure the world that it is indeed prepared to host the 2027 AFCON, especially on the back of negative publicity that the country was falling behind its co-hosts, Uganda and Tanzania, with the stadia preparations. Besides displaying Kenya's leading stadium to the world, Bayern and Ajax players and staff will be able to sample Kenya's culture, food, entertainment, and also its tourism assets, thereby giving the country substantial publicity internationally," Okinyi said.

About Raila Odinga stadium

The Raila Odinga International Stadium is a 60,000-seater sports facility located in Jamhuri Grounds on the outskirts of the Nairobi city centre.

Its construction began in March 2024 with the aim of hosting international football matches, entertainment functions, and other major sporting events.

The Raila Odinga stadium is one of the two football stadiums in Kenya that will host the 2027 AFCON tournament, with the other being the Moi International Sports Centre-Kasarani, also in Nairobi. The upcoming AFCON competition, running from June 19 to July 17, 2027, will also be co-hosted by Kenya's neighbours Uganda and Tanzania. The three nations have never hosted AFCON before.

Kenya's newest stadium contains a hybrid playing surface, VIP and VVIP seating areas, media and broadcasting facilities, 52 skyboxes, training pitches and supporting sports facilities, nine entry and exit gates, an eight-level shield-shaped exterior facade, and an LED facade and musical fountain.

Kenya awarded the stadium's construction contract worth hundreds of millions of US dollars to the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC). President Ruto's government takes pride in conceptualising and building the mega stadium.