Murkomen Reveals Govt’s Plan to Host Man United and Arsenal at Raila Odinga’s International Stadium

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed that the government is exploring plans to host a high-profile friendly match between English Premier League rivals Manchester United and Arsenal in Nairobi around July 2027.

Speaking during a church service in Ikolomani, Kakamega, on Sunday, November 8, 2026, the Cabinet Secretary signaled that the proposed marquee fixture forms part of a broader strategy to establish the newly constructed 60,000-seater Raila Odinga International Stadium as a world-class sports venue.

“Next year the president will bring Arsenal and Manchester United to play in Nairobi in July 2027,” Murkomen told congregants, pointing to the administration’s aggressive push to secure top-tier international fixtures ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Kenya will co-host alongside Uganda and Tanzania.

The announcement comes on the heels of confirmed arrangements for European powerhouses Bayern Munich of Germany and AFC Ajax of the Netherlands to square off at the same facility on Tuesday, January 5, 2027.

That inaugural clash, with tickets starting from Ksh 2,500, is expected to draw over 5,000 international visitors from Europe, alongside thousands of traveling supporters from regional markets like Nigeria and Egypt, serving as an operational launchpad for the state-of-the-art facility.

While public attention centers on the unprecedented spectacle of bringing two of East Africa’s most wildly popular football clubs to local turf, the government’s objective extends far beyond simple matchday entertainment.

As final construction touches wrap up on the nation’s flagship sporting complex, the government is betting that sports diplomacy and leverage over major European football brands will establish Kenya as sub-Saharan Africa’s premier destination for international sports tourism and mega-event hosting.

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