We have not sold Bomas of Kenya to anyone, says government

The government has refuted claims that the Bomas of Kenya has been sold to a Turkish national as alleged by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

In a statement by the PS, State Department for Culture, the Arts & Heritage, Umi Bashir, says by dint of Executive Order of Government No 2 of 2023, Bomas of Kenya was placed under the State Department.

“I am therefore shocked by the allegations made by the former Deputy President concerning the sale of Bomas of Kenya to a Turkish national. The State Department for Culture, the Arts and Heritage stands to categorically refute this allegation. Bomas of Kenya has not been sold to anyone,” read the statement.

The development of the Bomas International Convention Complex (BICC) was approved by Cabinet on 8th August 2023, after a Cabinet Memorandum presented by the then Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage, Hon Peninah Malonza, EGH, she says.

Umi notes that the idea of refurbishing and upgrading Bomas of Kenya is not new and has been in consideration for the past 10 years.

She adds that the Bomas of Kenya has a valid title in its name, issued in 1971 and it is in the government's custody.

“The State Department for Culture, the Arts and Heritage assures the public that Bomas of Kenya will remain a Government facility. Its ownership shall not change, as it is held in trust on behalf of the People of the Republic of Kenya, for posterity,” the statement concluded.

The statement comes hours after former DP Rigathi Gachagua claimed that the sale of Bomas had been approved by the Cabinet and he is the only one who opposed the move.

Gachagua said the government proceeded with the sale, allegedly ignoring concerns raised by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), which had warned that Bomas is located within a critical flight path.