Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi has clarified that the government will not spend public funds to bring Bayern Munich and Ajax to Kenya for the launch of the Talanta Stadium.

Speaking on Saturday, October 31, PS Mwangi said the government has secured sponsors who will facilitate the match between the two European football giants.  

“We are not using government money. We have gone ahead and gotten sponsors who are coming on board and have given support. That is why those teams will be coming,” the Sports PS clarified. 

PS Mwangi also dismissed reports that it will be the Bayern legends who will feature against the Ajax team. 

He noted that the team that the government approached to feature during the Talanta stadium launch is the main team. 

“I want to put it on record that the team that will be coming will be the main team. I have seen some people saying we will be bringing legends. The team that we have approached is the main team,” he stated. 

Further, PS Mwangi said Bayern Munich and Ajax have millions of fans, and bringing the teams to Kenya will put the country on the global stage. 

“If we bring teams that have a worldwide following of over 300 million people, what does that mean? We will be displaying what we have as a country,” Mwangi added.

On Wednesday, October 28, President William Ruto announced that Talanta Stadium will officially open on January 5, 2027, with a historic football match between Bayern Munich and Ajax.

"On 5 January 2027, we will open this stadium with a historic match between two giants of European football: FC Bayern Munich of Germany and AFC Ajax of Amsterdam," he said.

Ruto highlighted the European pedigree of both clubs, noting that they had won the UEFA Champions League a combined ten times. 

He also drew a connection between Germany and Raila, whose educational journey included studies in the country.

"Between them, they have been crowned champions of Europe ten times. There is a quiet poetry in this fixture; Raila had studied in Germany. Now, a great German club will come to play in the house that bears his name," he added.

Ajax's reputation for developing young footballers also featured prominently in Ruto's remarks, with the President linking the Dutch club's youth development philosophy to the meaning of Talanta.