Kenya Activists Challenge Bayern Ajax Match Over Sh724.6M Fee

• Six Kenyans have filed a petition at the Milimani High Court to halt a friendly football match between Bayern Munich and Ajax.
• The petitioners are concerned about a reported Sh724.6 million appearance fee for Bayern Munich and undisclosed government financing.
• They seek to prevent the government from committing public funds or resources to the January 5, 2027 match at Talanta Stadium.
• The legal challenge demands full disclosure of corporate sponsors, financial contributions, and a detailed budget for the event.
• Activists warn that without court intervention, public resources could be irreversibly committed, violating constitutional principles of transparency.

This case highlights the increasing judicial scrutiny on the use of public funds for large-scale events in Kenya, particularly regarding transparency and accountability in financial arrangements.

Six Kenyan citizens have initiated legal proceedings to prevent a proposed friendly football match between European giants Bayern Munich and Ajax, citing concerns over the substantial appearance fee and a lack of transparency regarding government financial involvement. The petition, lodged on Monday, November 1, 2026, at the Milimani High Court's Constitutional and Human Rights Division, targets the international friendly scheduled for January 5, 2027, at the Talanta Stadium, which has been renamed the Raila Odinga International Stadium. The petitioners, including Erick Sayialel Mankuyu, Julius Kimani Kamau, Dickson Kimathi Muli, Nicholas Ochieng Oyoo, Mulinge Muteti, and Collins Otieno, are seeking a court order to prohibit the government from allocating public funds or resources to the event until their case is fully heard and determined.

Represented by lawyer John Mana Ndegwa, the petitioners have named the Attorney General, the Sports Cabinet Secretary, the National Treasury Cabinet Secretary, and Sports Kenya as respondents. They specifically aim to prevent these entities from committing any public funds, personnel, security, transport, or even the use of the Talanta Stadium facilities towards the proposed match. The core of their argument revolves around reports suggesting Bayern Munich is set to receive an appearance fee of approximately five million euros, equivalent to Sh724.6 million, a figure they contend requires official verification and full disclosure of all associated costs.

The activists contend that despite President William Ruto's earlier assurances that the match would be financed through corporate partnerships and a self-sustaining commercial model, the complete financial arrangements have not been made public. They emphasize that the reported Sh724.6 million appearance fee, along with other potential expenses, has not been independently verified by them, prompting their demand for official disclosure from the respondents. Their petition explicitly seeks orders compelling the government to reveal the identities of all corporate sponsors, detailing their financial contributions and obligations.

Furthermore, the petitioners are demanding a comprehensive breakdown of the budget, encompassing appearance fees, travel, accommodation, security, insurance, hospitality, and other logistical expenditures. They argue that merely labeling the event as "privately sponsored" does not automatically guarantee that Kenyan taxpayers will be shielded from financial liabilities. The legal challenge therefore presses for clarity on whether public funds, government guarantees, subsidies, indemnities, public personnel, security services, transport facilities, or any other government resources are slated for commitment towards the high-profile football encounter.

This case highlights the increasing judicial scrutiny on the use of public funds for large-scale events in Kenya, particularly regarding transparency and accountability in financial arrangements. Lawyers advising government bodies or entities involved in public-private partnerships must ensure full disclosure and strict adherence to public finance laws to mitigate legal challenges and potential injunctions.

Source: Reporting based on Kenyan legal filings.