The government has responded following controversy over claims that Bomas of Kenya has been sold to a Turkish national.
This was in response to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s claims that the cultural heritage Bomas of Kenya had been sold to a Turkish investor.
The former DP also said that the Cabinet had approved the sale.
However, in a statement on March 10 2025, Principal Secretary for Culture and Arts Ummi Bashir denied the claims stating that Bomas had not been sold to anyone.
“By dint of Executive Order of Government, Bomas of Kenya was placed under the State Department for Culture, the Arts and Heritage. I am therefore shocked by the allegations made by the former Deputy President regarding the sale of Bomas of Kenya to a Turkish national. The State Department for Culture, the Arts and Heritage categorically refutes this allegation. Bomas of Kenya has not been sold to anyone,” Bashir stated.
She clarified that the ongoing transformation of Bomas of Kenya was the work of a foreign investor, adding that renovations to upgrade the facility began in 2023 after approval by the Cabinet.
“The idea of refurbishing and upgrading Bomas of Kenya is not new and has been under consideration for the past 10 years. Nevertheless, it is the current administration that has given impetus to its actualisation. The Bomas of Kenya has a valid title in its name, issued in 1971” Bashir added.
She further explained that the government aims to refurbish Bomas to make it a premium conferencing facility as a part of a bold vision to transform it into a complex if international standards.
