Kenya: About-Turn? Government Mulls Subsidised Tickets for Bayern Vs Ajax Clash

What the report says

Kenya’s government is weighing a plan to subsidise tickets for the exhibition match between Bayern Munich and Ajax Amsterdam, which is set to mark the opening of the Raila Odinga International Stadium at Talanta City next year, according to Capital FM, distributed by AllAfrica. The fixture is tied to Kenya’s preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which the country will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.

Nicholas Musonye, chairman of the AFCON 2027 Local Organising Committee, said officials are working on a pricing formula aimed at making the event more affordable for ordinary fans. He said an announcement could come within about a week. Musonye indicated that one option under discussion is for tickets to be bought at full price and then resold to supporters at a lower subsidised rate.

The issue has drawn attention because the first batch of tickets went on sale with the cheapest category set at Ksh 2,500, alongside higher-priced tiers. Some football fans complained that the rates were too high for many Kenyans, even though the initial allocation reportedly sold out. The match is scheduled for January 5, 2027, at the 60,000-seat venue. More broadly, the discussion reflects a balancing act between financing major sports events and ensuring public access to a flagship national stadium.