Bomas of Kenya is set to be elevated to an international conference centre following resolutions passed by President William Ruto's Cabinet on Tuesday, August 8.
In the new plan approved at a meeting held at the Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri County, the facility will be named the Bomas International Convention Centre (BICC).
Some of the new features to be introduced included a conference centre and a presidential pavilion.
Construction of five hotels will also be undertaken to bring the facility located in Lang'ata to international status such as the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
"This state initiative, fifty years after the groundbreaking of KICC, is expected to further the growth of conference tourism, hospitality, and event and aviation industries as set out in the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA)," read the dispatch in part.
Ruto's Cabinet also noted that the move will also enable the centre to become a hub for international conferences and meetings.
KICC has been hosting international conferences over the years however it has proved inadequate hence the decision to renovate it ahead of the Africa Climate Week (ACW) 2023 which will be held from September 4 - 8.
Cabinet's plan will kickstart the process to transform Bomas which was initially established as a cultural centre to promote and preserve the diverse cultural values of various ethnic groups.
While the values of the project were not highlighted, documents from parliament in March 2022 revealed that the project will cost Ksh63 billion in the long run.
The plan is to have it undertaken under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Bomas which was officially opened in 1971 currently hosts an auditorium, a pavilion, a conference hall, VIP Lounges and open grounds.
Over the years, the facility has been famous for hosting the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission(IEBC) as a tallying centre in past elections.
