Ruto Announces Construction Of Bomas Convention Complex After Gachagua's Remarks
Ruto stated that the project aims to upgrade the facility to world-class standards.
Marvin Chege 
President William Ruto announced on Tuesday, March 11, that construction of the Bomas International Convention Complex at Bomas of Kenya will commence in two weeks, despite growing public scrutiny of the national heritage site.
According to a Cabinet dispatch, Ruto stated that the project aims to upgrade the facility to world-class standards.
“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 dispatch stated.
Adding, “The project aims to redefine the look, feel, and purpose of Bomas, positioning it as a premier destination for global events."
President William Ruto during a Cabinet meeting on March 11, 2025. /PCS
The developments came after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua alleged that the facility had been auctioned to a Turkish national, adding that the Cabinet had approved the sale despite his objections when he was the second-in-command, a matter the government denied.
"On matters of corruption, I told the President that we promised the people of Kenya that we would work for them, but the government has become pure thieves. As we speak, Bomas of Kenya has been sold to a Turkish citizen. It has gone," he revealed.
"It was brought up in Cabinet, I opposed it, all by myself. The rest were scared; when they saw the President, they were shaken. I'm the only one who stood in Cabinet and said that Bomas of Kenya is a national heritage and we cannot sell it."
In the statement issued on Monday, March 10, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Culture and Arts, Ummi Bashir, dismissed the allegations, clarifying that the renowned national heritage site had not been sold to anyone.
Bashir further debunked the claims that the ongoing transformation of Bomas of Kenya was the work of a foreign investor, adding that renovations to upgrade the facility began as far back as 2023 after approval by the Cabinet.
"The development of the Bomas International Convention Complex (BICC) was approved by Cabinet on 8th August 2023, after a Cabinet Memorandum presented by the then Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage, Hon Peninah Malonza, EGH," she stated.
"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 actualization. The Bomas of Kenya has a valid title in its name, issued in 1971. This title is in the Government's custody."
