Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi told reporters on Saturday, Oct 31, that the Kenyan government will not use public funds to bring Bayern Munich and Ajax to the Talanta Stadium opening.

Mwangi said sponsors have been secured to finance the match, emphasizing that the clubs will travel to Kenya without any government expenditure.

He also dismissed circulating reports that former Bayern legends would feature, confirming that the main Bayern Munich squad, not a legends team, has been approached for the event.

President William Ruto announced on Oct 28 that Talanta Stadium will officially open on Jan 5, 2027, with a historic match between the two European clubs.

Ruto highlighted the clubs’ combined ten UEFA Champions League titles and linked the event to Kenya’s global profile, noting the clubs’ worldwide fan bases of over 300 million.

The president also referenced former Vice President Raila Odinga’s education in Germany, describing a symbolic connection between the German club and the stadium named after him.

Ajax’s reputation for youth development was cited by Ruto as aligning with the stadium’s name, Talanta, which means ‘talent’ in Swahili.