President William Ruto has confirmed that the Bomas International Convention Complex (BICC), a state-of-the-art facility rising at Bomas of Kenya, will officially open by May this year.
Speaking during the Magical Kenya Open at Karen Country Club, the president said the new convention complex will replace the 50-year-old Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) as Kenya’s main venue for international summits and high-profile global events.
“You know, we are building something in the Bomas of Kenya. We are building the most modern conference facility in eastern central Africa, and it will be ready by May this year,” Ruto said.
He explained that the BICC forms part of a wider strategy to position Kenya as a top destination for conference tourism, also known as business tourism. According to the president, the country must invest in modern infrastructure to compete for major global meetings and exhibitions.
“Kenya is a tourist destination, and we want to promote our conference tourism. We need a proper, modern conference facility to replace our 50-year-old KICC so that we can drive this forward,” he said.
Road Upgrade to Boost Access to Bomas
Ruto also announced plans to dual the road linking the Bomas of Kenya to Karen, a move aimed at easing traffic and improving accessibility for delegates and visitors attending events at the complex.
“The road between Bomas of Kenya and Karen, we are going to be dualing it this year so that people who want to come here can find it easy to get to this sports facility,” Ruto added.
Once complete, the BICC will serve as a major hub for business tourism in East and Central Africa. The complex will accommodate up to 11,000 delegates—more than triple the 3,400-person capacity of the current Bomas amphitheater.
The facility will feature a presidential pavilion designed to host up to 30 heads of state, alongside technologically advanced meeting rooms and modern audio-visual systems. By meeting international standards, the venue will enable Kenya to host large-scale summits, trade expos, and diplomatic gatherings at a new level.
As of January 2026, construction had reached about 40 percent completion, with contractors working continuously to keep the project on schedule. The complex has already secured bookings for several major events, including the upcoming Africa-France Summit.