Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed plans by President William Ruto to bring English Premier League giants Manchester United and Arsenal to Kenya for a high-profile friendly match in July 2027.
The proposed fixture would see the two historic rivals face off at the Raila Odinga International Stadium, formerly Talanta Sports City, in what could become one of the biggest football events ever staged in Kenya.
Murkomen made the remarks on Sunday, November 8, 2026, while speaking in Kakamega about the government’s plans to attract major international sporting events to Kenya.
“Next year,the president will bring Manchester United and Arsenal in June.They will come to play in Nairobi, Murkomen said.
The proposed encounter would bring together two of the Premier League’s most popular clubs, both of which enjoy significant support in Kenya.
The proposed match would be staged at the 60,000-seater Raila Odinga International Stadium, located at Jamhuri Grounds along Ngong Road in Nairobi.
The facility is scheduled to be officially inaugurated on January 5, 2027, with a friendly match between German champions Bayern Munich and Dutch giants Ajax.
The January encounter has been confirmed by the two clubs and will serve as the stadium’s inaugural match ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
The January Bayern Munich-Ajax fixture is expected to provide an important test of Kenya’s ability to host major international football events ahead of AFCON 2027.
However, the proposed Manchester United-Arsenal friendly is yet to be officially confirmed by either club. The announcement currently remains a statement of the Kenyan government’s intentions rather than a confirmed fixture on the clubs’ schedules.
The proposal has also attracted political criticism, with Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba arguing that the government should prioritise settling debts owed to tea factories instead of pursuing expensive international football engagements.
