The High Court has declined to certify as urgent a petition seeking to stop the upcoming friendly match between Bayern Munich and AFC Ajax in January 2027 at the Raila Odinga International Stadium.

The court on Tuesday, November 3, declined the petitioners' prayer to certify the matter as urgent and issue conservatory orders to halt the match.

"I am not satisfied that the petition and the notice of motion dated 1/11/2026 are urgent and or that they should be considered ex parte, substantively in terms of the interim orders sought," Lady Justice Aburili ruled.

Last week, six petitioners moved to the court, alleging possible constitutional violations arising from the proposed football event.

In their petition, they wanted the court to intervene and prevent the government from committing public funds to the event unless the expenditure is shown to comply with the Constitution and financial laws.

The petitioners also wanted the government prevented from entering into contracts , guarantees, or other financial arrangements that could expose taxpayers to liabilities over the event.

They also court orders to direct the government to reveal sponsorship agreements, contracts, budgetary allocations, and other financial commitments relating to the event.

"Pending the hearing and determination of this petition, the petitioners respectively pray that this court be pleased to Issue a conservatory order restraining the respondents, whether by themselves, their agents, servants or any other person acting under their authority, from authorizing, allocating, releasing, committing or expending public funds towards the Bayern Munich and AFC Ajax football event scheduled at Talanta Stadium on January 5, 2027, unless such expenditure is demonstrated to comply with the Constitution and applicable financial laws," the documents read in part.

In the court papers, the petitioners cite a reported cost of approximately Ksh724.6 million (€5 million) for hosting the two clubs . However, they maintain that the figure has not been independently verified and requires official clarification.

Following the move to decline to certify the matter as urgent and issue conservatory orders, the court directed the petitioners to serve the petition and notice of motion on all respondents and interested parties.

The respondents, which include the Ministry of Sports and interested parties, were given 10 days to file and serve their responses to the petition and notice of motion, with the matter set for mention on November 25.

President William Ruto on October 28 announced that the 60,000-seater Talanta Stadium would be opened on January 5, 2027, with an inaugural match between the two European giants, with many questioning the source of funds that will be used to bring the two teams to Nairobi.

However, Sports PS Elijah Mwangi maintained that the government would not spend money on the upcoming event, revealing that the match will be sponsored by private sector stakeholders.

"We are not using government money. We have gotten a private sponsor who has supported us to bring the two teams here," Mwangi said.