Ruto announces construction of Bomas International Convention Complex to begin in two weeks

President William Ruto has announced that the construction of the Bomas International Convention Complex will begin in the next two weeks.

Ruto made the announcement during a Cabinet meeting at State House, Nairobi on Tuesday, highlighting that the development marks a significant step in the government’s plan to transform the Bomas of Kenya into a world-class conferencing hub.

“The project aims to redefine the look, feel, and purpose of Bomas, positioning it as a premier destination for global events,” read a despatch issued following the Cabinet meeting.

This is however not the first time the Cabinet is approving the establishment of an international convention centre, as the same was done almost two years ago.

A Cabinet meeting chaired by President Ruto at the Sagana State Lodge on August 8, 2023 ratified the construction of the Bomas International Convention Centre (BICC) to position Kenya as the destination of choice for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism.

The BICC was set to be an advancement of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), and was expected to feature a Conference Centre, a Presidential Pavilion and at least five hotels.

Following the March 11, 2025 Cabinet meeting, President Ruto also shared updates on several key infrastructure projects, including the progress of the Talanta Hela Stadium at Jamhuri Park in Nairobi, which is now 40% complete.

“Once finished, the 60,000- seater stadium will be Kenya’s largest, with the government aiming to complete it by the end of this year. This underscores its commitment to modernising sports infrastructure,” the Cabinet despatch adds.

“The last time a stadium of this magnitude was built in Kenya was 45 years ago - Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani - making Talanta Hela a landmark achievement in the country’s sporting history.”

The Cabinet also directed the finalisation of the construction framework and the groundbreaking of the 170km four-lane Rironi-Mau Summit Road by June 1, 2025.

The project is set to upgrade the road from a two-way single carriageway to a four-lane dual carriageway, significantly improving traffic flow.

“This road development is expected to ease transport and travel from Nairobi through Nakuru to Western Kenya, a route that has long suffered from serious traffic congestion on weekends and during national holidays,” reads the despatch.

“The project, which is set for completion within 24 months, with a target date of June 2027, is part of Kenya’s broader infrastructure transformation aimed at enhancing connectivity across the country and the region, while driving economic growth.”

The Cabinet also approved new measures aimed at boosting Kenya's tourism sector, including prioritizing sustainable tourism, improve marketing efforts, and investing in MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) facilities, among other initiatives

“With three million tourists expected to visit Kenya in 2025, the government will focus on sustainable tourism, enhanced marketing strategies, and investment in Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) facilities, as well as cruise tourism infrastructure and positive destination profiling,” stated the despatch.

“Key initiatives include promoting eco-friendly tourism practices, expanding community-based tourism, and targeting key markets such as the United States and China. Notably, cruise tourism has surged 163.5%, prompting further investment in port facilities.”