The Sh45 billion Bomas International Convention Centre (BICC) project is facing questions over the management and custody of its construction contract and procurement documents, despite the project being funded and owned by the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife.
The project is being developed at Bomas of Kenya as a major international conference and events facility intended to strengthen Kenya’s capacity to host large-scale regional and global meetings.
Questions have emerged over why the Ministry of Defence holds the construction contract and related procurement documents for a project whose funding and ownership fall under the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife.
The arrangement has raised concerns about the procurement and governance structure of the project, including which government agency is responsible for contracting, project implementation and oversight.
The BICC is among Kenya’s major planned public infrastructure investments, with its Sh45 billion cost making transparency in procurement, contracting and expenditure a key issue of public interest.
The project’s procurement arrangements and the roles played by the two ministries are therefore likely to face increased scrutiny as stakeholders seek clarity on how the construction contract was awarded, who is responsible for its implementation and how public funds allocated to the project are being managed.
Further documentation and official explanations from the relevant government agencies will be important in establishing the contractual and procurement arrangements surrounding the project.
