Bomas of Kenya not ready to host 2026 Africa–France Summit, MPs told

The two-day summit is scheduled for May 11–12.

Members of the National Assembly Committee on Tourism and Wildlife were informed during an inspection tour of the facility, currently undergoing major renovations, that construction works will not be completed before the event.

Tourism Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa told the committee, led by Vice-Chairperson Bedzimba Rashid, that the ongoing facelift will miss the summit deadline.

“Our inspection has established that the works will not be completed within the stipulated timeframe,” said Rashid.

Despite the setback, the committee expressed satisfaction with both the progress and quality of the reconstruction works, noting that the project is delivering value for money.

“The Committee is satisfied that there is value for money in the project, which is aimed at transforming Bomas into a world-class facility,” Rashid added.

Lawmakers reaffirmed their backing for the government’s plan to upgrade the venue into the Bomas International Convention Centre (BICC), pledging continued oversight to ensure prudent use of public funds.

Khamis Chome noted that relocating the Africa–France summit was a practical decision, given the venue’s unavailability.

“Changing the venue for the summit from Bomas was a pragmatic decision that will ensure the multi-billion project is implemented without pressure,” he said.

Meanwhile, Taib Abubakar highlighted the project’s potential to create employment opportunities for young people once completed.

Ololtuaa described the redevelopment as a landmark initiative that will significantly enhance Kenya’s tourism and conference hosting capacity.

“Once complete, the BICC will position Kenya as a premier destination for high-level national and international events,” he said, adding that the project has benefited from consistent support from the committee.