The Bomas International Convention Centre (BICC) is already 40pc complete, and the scale of the project is evident in the flurry of activity across the site.
Under the watchful eye of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), construction runs around the clock, creating thousands of jobs and transforming lives even before the building opens its doors.
Brenda Chepkemoi, 20, is one of the many young Kenyans whose future has been reshaped by the project.
“I started working at Bomas in July as a labourer on the masonry team,” she says. “I learned to lay stones and organize materials. Gradually, I was given bigger responsibilities. My supervisor saw the quality of my work and promoted me. I wanted to support my parents at home and build my future. Working here has helped me do that.”
The BICC project, a multibillion-shilling flagship initiative of President William Ruto’s administration, is already proving to be a major employment engine.
“We have been involved from inception to date, we are at 40pc of the development and we anticipate that by end of March we will be closer to getting to around 70pc of the development as we work towards ensuring that the facility is completed before the intended events that will be held within the convention in May of 2026,” said Jimmy Okidiang, Acting CEO and General Manager of Bomas of Kenya.
Lieutenant Colonel Wilfrida Amondi, the project officer and an architect, explained the magnitude of phase one, which includes the main convention center, heritage zone, and commercial street.
“The main convention center is solar-powered and green. It has a total capacity of 11,000, including a 5,000-seat convention hall, a 3,500-seat auditorium, a 2,500-capacity ballroom, and over 20 meeting rooms. This is just phase one of the project,” she said.
President Ruto has made the BICC project a personal commitment.
“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 Ksh 35 billion. Construction is ongoing 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, modelled to rival international venues such as Dubai World Trade Centre and Singapore Expo, is set to become the largest convention facility in the region.
While the BICC will elevate Kenya’s global profile, its most immediate and tangible impact is creating jobs and opening opportunities for young Kenyans like Brenda.
“You cannot just sit at home,” she adds. “Opportunities like this help you grow and support your family. People say there’s no work, but here there is. You just have to take it and work hard.”
With phase one at 40pc completion, Bomas is more than a convention center in the making; it is a symbol of Kenya’s ambition, a hub for culture, business, and tourism, and a lifeline for thousands of workers whose lives are being transformed before the facility even opens.
