Bomas of Kenya

Origin

Kenya's independent government in 1965 established the Kenya Tourist Development Corporation (KTDC), under the then Ministry of Information and Tourism. It was through this body that the Bomas Of Kenya was established in October 1971, under the ingenuity of Barack Obama Snr. It was mandated to preserve and promote cultural tourism, with showcases of different Kenyan traditional cultures in their authentic forms. He proposed its current location, which was convenient enough to target the tourists who were visiting the nearby Nairobi National Park.

Cultural Tourism

• There is a display of traditional huts of various Kenyan communities. These homes are made of mud, thatched grass, wood and are reconstructed with emphasis on the social organization, lifestyle, and traditions of the communities.

• The Bomas of Kenya offers visitors a glimpse of the different Kenyan cultures through songs, dances and architectural villages of the different ethnic groupings. The Bomas Harambee Dancers perform these songs and dances, adapted from the Kenyan communities, to the sound of musical instruments, originally used by the ancestors. The Bomas Harambee Dancers resident dance troupe was founded in 1973 and is named in honor of the First President Jomo Kenyatta’s call for unity and cooperation in building the Kenyan Nation.

• The Bomas of Kenya has a gallery with displays of cultural artefacts such as stools, vessels, musical instruments, used by different Kenyan communities for rituals and special ceremonies.

• Visitors also have the option of being treated to local traditional cuisines while at the Utamaduni Restaurant.

• There are craft shops offering selections of local handiwork, including beadwork, carvings, traditional artifacts, and African attire.

• The Bomas library and multimedia centre contains information on Kenyan culture in periodicals, books, audio and video formats, enabling researchers, students, teachers and tourists to find fact-based information about Kenyan communities and their cultures.

Political and Constitutional Importance

The Constitution of Kenya Review Commission (CKRC) was mandated to organize a National Constitutional Conference in accordance with section 27(1)(1) of the Constitution of Kenya Review Act.

The Draft Constitution of Kenya 2004, commonly known as The Bomas Draft, was the outcome of the National Constitutional Conference held at the Bomas of Kenya for a total of 139 days from April 2003 to 2004:

• The first conference (Bomas I) lasted from April to June 2003.
• Bomas II from August until September 2003.
• Bomas III, which finalized the “Bomas draft constitutional Bill”, lasted from January until March 2004.

The Bomas draft proposed to significantly reduce presidential powers and create a powerful prime minister. It also called for a much devolved form of parliamentary government, with different tiers of government.

Moreover, Bomas of Kenya has always been the National Tallying Centre for the Kenyan elections over the years, including in 2022.

Renovations

In March 2025, The Bomas of Kenya was temporarily closed for a major renovation and upgrading of the facility. This was confirmed through a cabinet meeting circular released from the government.

The process will include the construction of the Bomas International Convention Complex (BICC), aimed at positioning Nairobi as a leading Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions destination.

Turkish company, Summa Turizm Yatirimciligi Anonim Sirketi, won the tender bid for renovations and construction, after a Kenyan court case decision went in their favor.

References

References

1. Gorham, M. Victoria. (September 2020). "Displaying the Nation: Museums and Nation-Building in Tanzania and Kenya". African Studies Review.
2. (2020-07-04). "How Barack Obama Sr’s brilliance changed Kenya".
3. (2020-07-02). "Our cultural homestead".
4. Coombes, Annie E.. (2019). "Managing Heritage, Making Peace: History, Identity and Memory in Contemporary Kenya". I. B. Tauris & Company, Limited.
5. Opondo, Patricia A.. (May 2000). "Cultural Policies in Kenya". Arts Education Policy Review.
6. Grieveesbon Mwangi, Muhoro. (2020). "Diversity of Cultural Tourism Attractions in Nairobi Urban Destination". Journal of Tourism Management Research.
7. Franco, Susanne. (August 2015). "Reenacting Heritage at Bomas of Kenya: Dancing the Postcolony". Dance Research Journal.
8. Kiiru, Kahithe. (2014). "Bomas of Kenya : local dances put to the test of the national stage".
9. (2020-07-02). "Bomas of Kenya: A repository of the country’s cultural heritage".
10. (2020-08-24). "Intrigues behind fall of Bomas Draft, steps to Second Republic".
11. Whitaker, Beth Elise. (January 2009). "Voting on a constitution: Implications for democracy in Kenya". Journal of Contemporary African Studies.
12. "Revisiting 2004 Bomas Draft to cure Kenya’s governance woes".
13. (2020-09-06). "How plan for 14 counties was hijacked to create 47".
14. Mayabi, Lordrick. (2013-02-20). "Bomas now a restricted area - Kibaki".
15. Wanambisi, Laban. (2017-07-25). "National Tallying Centre at Bomas ready by week end, IEBC says".
16. (2022-08-09). "Bomas of Kenya: National tallying centre's new status of highly-guarded facility".
17. (2025-03-11). "Kenya's Cabinet Approves Major Infrastructure, Economic, and Social Reforms - NewsTrendsKE".
18. "Ruto: Modernisation of the Bomas of Kenya to begin in 2 weeks".
19. "Bomas of Kenya under renovation to make it a world-class facility - PS Bashir".
20. (2025-03-10). "Govt responds to reports that Bomas of Kenya has been sold".
21. (2025-04-14). "Win for Turkish firm in bid for Sh31 billion Bomas tender".
22. Gitonga, Nancy. "Turkish firm wins Sh31.6 billion Bomas renovation tender row".
23. Nkirote, Miriam. (2025-04-16). "Turkish Contractor Wins Sh32bn Bomas Complex Battle".