Kenya, March 10 -- The government has strongly denied claims made by former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua that Bomas of Kenya has been sold to a Turkish investor.
Speaking at a church in Kitengela, Kajiado county, on Sunday, March 9, Gachagua said that the important cultural and conference centre had been sold to a Turkish person.
He claimed that this decision was shared with the Cabinet, and he was the only one who disagreed.
According to Gachagua, he stopped the sale for a while, but after he was no longer in office, the government went ahead with the deal. He also mentioned that the sale was completed even though the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) raised concerns that Bomas is near a busy flight path.
In response, the State Department for Culture, the Arts, and Heritage called Gachagua's claims false and misleading. They said, "Bomas of Kenya has not been sold to anyone."
The government explained that Bomas of Kenya is still owned by the state and is part of a project to improve the Bomas International Convention Complex (BICC).
This project was approved by the Cabinet on August 8, 2023, after a proposal from the former Tourism, Wildlife, and Heritage cabinet secretary, Peninah Malonza. The goal is to upgrade Bomas to be a top convention centre.
They also mentioned that Bomas has a legal title deed from 1971, which is still with the government.
The government reassured the public that Bomas of Kenya would stay a government facility for the people of Kenya. "Its ownership will not change, as it is held in trust for the people of Kenya," they stated.
The BICC project aims to create an excellent venue for conferences, matching global standards while keeping the site's national heritage.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.