The Kenyan government recently announced that Bayern Munich and Ajax will play a friendly match in Nairobi on January 5, 2027, to open the new Raila Odinga International Stadium at Talanta. The match is being touted as a major event, but it has raised questions about the country's priorities in sports and governance. The announcement was made by State House, with the President stating that the match will be funded by "corporate partners" who have not yet been named.
This is not the first time the Kenyan government has been accused of prioritizing spectacle over substance. In October, students at the Kaptumo KMTC campus were filmed waving Sh1,000 notes they claimed they were given to line the road for a presidential stopover. Similar incidents have been reported in the past, where youths have been paid to attend events and protests. The practice has been documented across parties, but it is clear that only one party has control over the police.
The friendly match has also drawn comparisons to Rwanda's recent agreement with Formula 1 to host the African Grand Prix from the early 2030s. The agreement is part of Rwanda's sports-led growth strategy, which has been in the works for years. In contrast, Kenya's announcement of a friendly match seems to be a one-off spectacle, rather than part of a long-term plan. Rwanda's commitment to the project includes a decade-long investment, a fixed asset, and a financing plan.
Critics argue that the Kenyan government's priorities are misplaced. Rather than spending money on one-off events, the government should focus on addressing the country's real issues, such as the pending bills owed to small suppliers and the tax burden on struggling businesses. The Treasury's draft 2027 Budget Policy Statement has revealed a Sh180.73 billion exposure if the State walks away from the 30-year concessions on the Rironi to Mau Summit highway.
The article written by Lewis Ngunyi for the Daily Nation highlights that a weak leader often prioritizes appearance over substance. The set books used in Kenyan schools, such as Kigogo and Fathers of Nations, illustrate how weak leaders manage governance by focusing on optics rather than actual governance. The books provide a field guide to the State that Kenyan students will grow up under.
The author argues that the government's strategy of buying loyalty and support is short-sighted and ultimately ineffective. The "wantam" chants that follow paid crowds from one stop to the next are a testament to this. The same short horizon is also evident in the contracts signed by the government, such as the smart driving licence contract, which carries a Sh50.22 billion exposure against a project worth Sh45 billion.
Ultimately, the friendly match between Bayern Munich and Ajax may be a spectacle, but it does not address the underlying issues facing Kenya. The country's leaders would do well to focus on earning genuine support rather than trying to buy it. As the author notes, "the leader who confuses applause he paid for with support he earned is always the last to find out."
Key points
- The Kenyan government's priorities in sports and governance have been questioned following the announcement of a friendly match between Bayern Munich and Ajax.
- Critics argue that the government should focus on addressing real issues, such as pending bills and tax burdens, rather than spending money on one-off events.
- The government's strategy of buying loyalty and support has been called short-sighted and ineffective.
