Bomas of Kenya to be transformed into world-class convention hub amid controversy
Established in 1971, Bomas of Kenya was created to preserve, showcase, and promote the country’s rich and diverse cultural heritage. Over the years, it has become a key tourist attraction and cultural centre.
The Cabinet has approved the construction of the Bomas International Convention Complex, a project set to begin in two weeks, marking a major step in transforming the facility into a global conferencing hub.
The government said the initiative will redefine the purpose of Bomas of Kenya, positioning the country as a premier destination for international events.
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“The President announced that construction of the Bomas International Convention Complex will begin in two weeks, marking a major milestone in the government’s plan to transform the facility into a world-class conferencing hub,” the Cabinet led by President William Ruto on Tuesday said.
“The project aims to redefine the look, feel, and purpose of Bomas, positioning it as a premier destination for global events.”
The planned transformation of Bomas comes barely two days after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua claimed that the facility had been sold to a Turkish national.
Speaking at a church service in Kitengela, Kajiado County, on Sunday, Gachagua alleged that President William Ruto’s Cabinet had approved the sale, which he claimed also included prison land.
“As we speak, Bomas of Kenya has been sold to a Turkish national. The Cabinet was informed, and I was the only one who opposed it. I stood firm and said this is a national heritage; we cannot sell it,” Gachagua claimed.
His remarks prompted a swift rebuttal from the government, with Culture Principal Secretary Ummi Bashir dismissing the claims as “shocking” and untrue.
“Bomas of Kenya has not been sold to anyone,” she said in a statement on Monday.
“The development of the Bomas International Convention Complex (BICC) was approved by Cabinet on August 8, 2023, after a Cabinet Memorandum presented by the then Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife, and Heritage, Peninah Malonza.”
She further clarified that plans to refurbish and upgrade Bomas of Kenya have been under consideration for the past decade, with the current administration now pushing for its actualisation.
“The idea of refurbishing and upgrading Bomas of Kenya is not new and has been in consideration for the past 10 years. Nevertheless, it is the current administration that has given impetus to its actualisation,” she added.
Ummi reassured the public that Bomas remains a government facility, stating, “Its ownership shall not change, as it is held in trust on behalf of the people of the Republic of Kenya, for posterity.”
Gachagua, who has been an outspoken critic of Ruto’s administration since his impeachment last October, maintained that both he and Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) officials had objected to the purported sale, arguing that the facility is located within a flight path.
“The people from civil aviation opposed it, but the President went ahead and sold it. We are on our own,” he said.
Established in 1971, Bomas of Kenya was created to preserve, showcase, and promote the country’s rich and diverse cultural heritage. Over the years, it has become a key tourist attraction and cultural centre.
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