President William Ruto on Thursday said the Bomas of Kenya International Conference Centre (BICC) is already booked even before the construction works set to lapse in April 2026 are complete.
Speaking during the International Minorities Rights Day at the State House, Ruto said the hall is set to host the upcoming France-Africa Summit, which has requested to use the facility in May.
“Imekuwa booked. France Africa Summit tayari wamesema niwapangie mwezi wa tano wakuje wafanye mkutano hapo,” he said.
This is loosely translated to, “The France-Africa Summit has already indicated the dates they wish to hold their meeting, and we will accommodate them.”
Ruto hailed the facility, describing it as East Africa’s largest.
He noted that while plans for it had been in the works for 30 years, it was constructed in just one and a half years and will be ready by April 2026.
The multibillion-shilling project, which was launched in March 2025, is poised to become the largest convention facility in the region, marking a defining milestone in the country’s efforts to reposition itself as a premier global conferencing destination.
In November, Ruto said his administration had accelerated work at the Bomas of Kenya site to ensure the timely delivery of the ultra-modern complex.
He expressed confidence that the facility, whose construction runs 24 hours a day under the supervision of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), will be ready for its inaugural international event in May.
“The reality is that when I arrange and make a commitment, I do it. I promised the people of Kenya that we are going to build the largest conference centre in this country,” he said.
“It is going to cost us almost Sh35 billion at Bomas of Kenya. If you go there now, construction is going on day and night, and I want that facility finished by April next year. In May, you will find me there presiding over a France-Africa conference.”
The BICC, an ambitious undertaking featuring an 11,000-seat, four-storey convention centre, is expected to elevate Kenya into the league of global MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destinations.
The development mirrors leading international venues such as the Dubai World Trade Centre, the Cape Town International Convention Centre, and the Singapore Expo, all of which have become economic pillars for their host cities.
Beyond the main auditorium, the complex will include an animal orphanage, a landscaped city walkway, modern exhibition halls, sports and recreational amenities, and expansive parking facilities.
Its design integrates cultural, hospitality, and sports tourism elements, complementing the nearby Talanta Stadium to create a dual hub for regional and global events.
In September, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki received a detailed status report on construction progress and led discussions on an accelerated completion programme.
Those engagements encompassed supporting infrastructure, including light rail connectivity, key road upgrades, enhanced water circulation systems, and advanced ICT networks to support high-capacity conferencing.
For decades, Kenya has relied on the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), built in 1972, as the country’s flagship meeting facility.
With the finishing deadline now fixed and international attention turning toward Nairobi ahead of the Africa-France Summit, the BICC is emerging as one of the administration’s signature legacy projects, symbolising ambition, competitiveness, and Kenya’s return to the forefront of global conferencing.
by SHARON MWENDE
