The Sh41.7 billion Bomas International Convention Complex (BICC) reveals an ambitious plan to position Kenya as a regional hub for high-level diplomacy and global conferences. Once completed by April next year, the facility will include a presidential hall capable of accommodating up to 30 heads of state alongside their delegates.
The project, located at the historic Bomas of Kenya site, is being undertaken by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).
President William Ruto has described the BICC as the largest conference facility in East and Central Africa, a development that signals Kenya’s growing interest in hosting major international summits, trade expos and multilateral meetings.
According to details contained in the contract seen by Sunday Nation , the complex will feature a main convention hall with a seating capacity of 5,000 people. In addition, it will house an auditorium designed to host 3,500 people, as well as a ballroom with capacity for up to 1,500 guests. The development will also include several meeting rooms and administrative areas intended to support large-scale events and day-to-day operations.
Beyond the main buildings, CRBC will be responsible for extensive supporting infrastructure within the complex. This includes the construction of internal roads, pavements, car parks and comprehensive landscaping. The contract further provides for the supply and installation of furniture, fixtures and equipment necessary to make the facility fully operational upon completion.
“Upon deciding that the works are complete, the contractor shall issue a written request to the project manager (Ministry of Defence) to issue a certificate of completion of the works. The employer shall take the site and the works within seven days of the project manager issuing a certificate of completion,” the contract signed between the Ministry of Defence and the Chinese firm in March this year states.
President Ruto has reiterated the government’s commitment to completing the project within the set timelines. In a post on X, he said the BICC will be ready by April 2026. “We will have built the largest conference facility in East and Central Africa,” he said.
The new complex represents a major upgrade from the existing facilities at the Bomas of Kenya. Previously, the main auditorium could host up to 3,000 people, while a multi-purpose hall had a capacity of about 600 people. The limitations of the older infrastructure often forced Kenya to host major conferences in hotels or purpose-built venues elsewhere, including outside Nairobi.
Approval for the construction of the BICC was granted on August 8, 2023, during a Cabinet meeting held at the Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri County. Following the approval, CRBC took over the site and committed to delivering the project within a 24-month period.
An entrance to Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi on December 20,2025
Photo credit: Evance Habil | Nation Media Group
Financial details in the contract indicate that the government paid 10 per cent of the contract price upfront, forming part of the $32.4 million project cost. The balance is to be settled through bank transfers tied to the contractor’s achievement of eight clearly defined milestones.
External infrastructure works
These milestones include the completion of ground and first-floor structural and concrete works, second-floor structural works, and the installation of the truss roof and cladding. Other milestones cover the completion of cladding and finishing works, mechanical, electrical and plant (MEP) installations, and 90 per cent completion of civil and external infrastructure works.
The final 10 per cent instalment will be paid upon practical completion and the formal takeover of the project.
To facilitate accountability, the contract requires the contractor to submit regular applications for payment.
“The contractor shall submit to the project manager (chief of infrastructure at Defence headquarters) applications for payment giving sufficient details of the work done, materials on site and the amounts which the contractor considers himself to be entitled to,” the contract states.
The current contract follows a prolonged and contentious procurement process. Initially, the tender for the BICC was awarded to Turkish firm Summa Turizm Yatirimciligi Anonim Sirket, which had proposed to build and equip the complex at a cost of $245 million (about Sh31.6 billion).
However, the deal stalled after the government cited a lack of funds, prompting a legal dispute. The matter ended up in court, where the Turkish firm challenged the government’s decision to halt the project.
The firm ultimately won the case, with the court directing the government to proceed with the contract.
Once completed, the BICC is expected to play a key role in positioning Kenya as a preferred destination for continental and global events, while also boosting tourism, trade and the country’s international profile.
