Raila Odinga International Stadium will host the planned Bayern Munich–Ajax exhibition on January 5, 2027.
President William Ruto announces a January 5 exhibition fixture at the 60,000-seat venue ahead of AFCON 2027.
The Bayern Ajax match will take place at Raila Odinga International Stadium on January 5, 2027, President William Ruto has announced. The exhibition fixture will bring the German and Dutch clubs to Kenya ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Ruto announced the plans through his official media channels while attending a forum in Moscow, Russia. He presented the fixture as a major milestone for the new 60,000-seat stadium, previously known as Talanta Stadium.
The planned encounter will give Kenyan supporters a chance to watch two leading European clubs on home soil. It will also showcase the facility internationally before the continental tournament.
Bayern Ajax match carries Raila connection
Ruto linked Bayern Munich’s involvement to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who studied in Germany. The stadium bears the name of Odinga, who was also an enthusiastic football supporter.
The President said naming the venue after Raila recognised his love for football and connection with fans. He also described the German club’s planned visit as a fitting link to Odinga’s educational background.
Meanwhile, Ruto highlighted Ajax’s reputation for developing young players through its academy system. He drew a symbolic connection between that focus on future talent and the occasion at Kenya’s new venue.
Corporate partnerships to support fixture
Ruto said corporate partnerships would support the exhibition through a commercial model designed to sustain itself. He argued that major sporting events could attract private investment and earn revenue rather than depend entirely on public funds.
The announcement therefore placed commercial partnerships at the centre of plans for the high-profile encounter. However, the travelling squads for both clubs remain unconfirmed.
Bayern stars could feature in Nairobi
Bayern’s squad includes England captain Harry Kane, alongside Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala and Luis Díaz. Their presence raises the prospect of Kenyan fans seeing some of European football’s leading players in Nairobi.
Kane won the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or, becoming the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001. His involvement would add another major attraction to the exhibition.
However, the announced fixture does not yet establish which players will make the trip. Squad confirmation will determine whether those names feature in the January encounter.
