Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has hinted at ambitious plans being explored to host a marquee clash between English giants Arsenal and Manchester United at Kenya’s newly constructed Raila Odinga Stadium.

With the announcement of the highly anticipated Bayern Munich vs. Ajax encounter on January 5, 2027, garnering excitement across the country, it appears the government is exploiting further avenues to bring more European sports teams to the Kenyan shores.

The next target is the English powerhouses, who command a massive following in Kenya, according to Murkomen.

The CS stated that the clash could be timed around July or August 2027, right when both teams are in the final stages of their pre-season tours before the new European league season kicks off.

“We are now bringing the high-profile games here. And not only that—next year, the president will bring Arsenal and Manchester United to play in Nairobi in July 2027,” Murkomen declared.

Murkomen also shared his excitement about what the January 5 fixture will mean for Kenya’s capacity to host top-tier international games as the nation prepares to co-host AFCON 2027.

“That Raila Odinga Stadium is like Manchester United’s stadium. It looks like the BayArena. We will soon open it on January 5, when Ajax and Bayern clash. We will see the likes of Harry Kane and Michael Olise in the streets of Nairobi.

“We never envisaged hosting such players here, and we will also see visitors come from across the globe to visit Kenya. This country is moving ahead,” he posited.

Murkomen hits at critics of Bayern Ajax clash

The CS went on to defend the government against the ongoing backlash over opting to unveil the Raila Odinga Stadium with a clash between European giants, stating that many of the critics have not even set foot in local games to watch domestic football.

“I dare ask these people: when did you start attending even local games? It’s only me and a few true sports lovers who have been in the stadiums supporting our local teams,” he jibed.