The Senate committee has inspected the progress of the ultra-modern convention centre under construction at Bomas of Kenya, expressing optimism that the facility will significantly boost the country’s profile as a global conference destination.

In a statement by the Parliament of Kenya on April 19, 2026, the Senate Committee on Roads, Transportation, and Infrastructure, chaired by Mohamed Chute, toured the site on to assess the status of works on the Bomas of Kenya International Conference Centre, which is expected to be completed by September this year.

Once complete, the facility will be the first of its kind in East Africa, positioning Kenya as a major hub for high-level meetings and international events.

Laikipia Senator John Kinyua said the project is part of a broader government strategy aimed at enhancing conference tourism, attracting global investors, and creating employment opportunities.

“The project is part of a broader strategy to boost Kenya’s conference tourism and attract global investors, while creating employment opportunities for thousands of Kenyans,” he said.

What the facility has

The facility will feature a high-level presidential pavilion capable of hosting up to 30 Heads of State.

In addition, it will include a convention hall with a capacity of 5,000 participants, a ballroom accommodating 1,500 guests, and an auditorium with a seating capacity of 3,500.

Acting Chief Executive Officer Jimmy Okidiangi said the combined capacity of the facility will reach 11,000 people at a time, making it the largest of its kind in Africa.

“Accumulatively, the facility can accommodate 11,000 persons at a go and shall be the biggest facility in Africa,” he stated.

The project, which spans more than 323,500 square metres, is strategically located near the intersection of Lang’ata Road and Magadi Road in Nairobi.

Kajiado Senator Peris Tobiko emphasized the project’s broader impact, saying it will elevate Nairobi’s global standing.

“This development is repositioning Nairobi not just as a capital city, but as a regional socio-economic hub and gateway for global commerce, diplomacy, and high-level engagements,” she said.

Bomas of Kenya using tourism levy

President William Ruto has also discussed the use of the Tourism Levy, which he said had been underutilised for decades.

According to Ruto, channeling these funds into the Bomas of Kenya project demonstrates a new approach to financing national development projects.

“We are also building Bomas of Kenya using Tourism Levy, that fund has never done anything for this country for the last 30 years, that money is building Bomas, that is how we are becoming innovative,” Ruto said during during the Joint Broad-Based Parliamentary Group meeting on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

Ruto emphasised that these projects mark a shift in how government funds are deployed, ensuring accountability and tangible outcomes for Kenyan citizens.

He stressed that consolidating resources for priority infrastructure, such as stadiums and cultural centres, allows the country to demonstrate the long-term impact of public funds while fostering innovation in development financing.