Chinese construction giant China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) has secured the current KSh41.9 billion contract to construct and equip the Bomas International Convention Centre (BICC) in Nairobi, a project whose overall cost has since risen to about KSh45.1 billion.
The contract, valued at US$324.09 million, was signed on March 18, 2025, with a 24-month implementation period. Construction began in March 2025 under the supervision of the Ministry of Defence and the Kenya Defence Forces.
The BICC project is intended to establish a major conference and hospitality complex capable of hosting large international events and strengthening Nairobi’s position as a meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions destination.
The complex is planned to accommodate up to 11,000 delegates and will include a 5,000-seat main convention hall, a 3,500-seat auditorium, a 1,500-capacity banquet ballroom, 54 meeting rooms and a Presidential Pavilion designed to accommodate 32 Heads of State. The development will also include parking for about 1,300 vehicles.
CRBC Replaces Turkish Contractor
CRBC is not the first foreign company to be selected for the project.
In November 2023, Turkish company Summa Turizm Yatirimciligi Anonim Sirketi was selected to design, construct and equip the convention complex at an estimated cost of US$245 million, equivalent to about KSh31.6 billion at the time.
The Ministry of Defence later terminated the Summa procurement process, citing issues including funding and changes to the scope of works. The decision was challenged, with the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board faulting the ministry over the termination and directing it to proceed with the procurement process.
The current contract was subsequently awarded to CRBC in 2025.
According to the Auditor-General’s report, the Ministry of Defence entered into the US$324.09 million contract with the foreign contractor on March 18, 2025. The audit also raised questions about the procurement process, including the timing of approval for direct procurement.
Project Cost Rises to KSh45.1 Billion
The BICC project has undergone a significant increase in its reported cost, rising from the initial estimate of about KSh31.7 billion to approximately KSh45.1 billion.
The increase comes as the project faces scrutiny over procurement, financing, implementation and the division of responsibilities between government ministries.
The Auditor-General flagged an inconsistency between the repayment arrangement contained in the construction contract and the financing plan approved by the National Treasury. The contract provided for repayment through nine instalments over 24 months, while the Treasury-approved financing plan provided for a 10-year deferred payment period.
The audit also found that approval for direct procurement was granted on February 17, 2025, after procurement proceedings had already commenced, with tender invitation documents and a site visit certificate dated February 13 and 14.
The Auditor-General said the timing was contrary to provisions of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act.
Senate Seeks Answers Over Contract
The project has now attracted scrutiny from the Senate, particularly over the custody of the main construction contract and procurement documents.
The Ministry of Tourism owns the project and is responsible for its tourism positioning, marketing and oversight, while the Ministry of Defence was given responsibility for procurement, contracting, technical supervision and project management.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano told senators that the principal contract documents were held by the Ministry of Defence.
The Senate committee is seeking the construction contract alongside procurement records, financing agreements, budgets, invoices, payment records, technical reports, bills of quantities, approved designs and details of any contract variations.
BICC Project Behind Schedule
The construction project was reported to be 38 per cent complete by June 2026, despite earlier expectations that significant portions would be completed during the 2025/26 financial year.
The completion programme has since been extended to December 31, 2026.
Business Daily reported that the project was facing delays, with officials attributing some of the early disruption to heavy rains that affected excavation works. The delay has also affected operations at Bomas of Kenya, with the institution recording significantly lower visitor numbers during the period.
The government has positioned the convention centre as a major investment in Kenya’s conference and tourism economy. The facility is expected to attract international meetings, exhibitions and diplomatic engagements, with potential spillovers to hotels, transport, entertainment and other businesses in Nairobi.
However, the project’s rising cost, procurement history, financing arrangements and construction delays remain under scrutiny as government agencies seek to complete the development.
For now, CRBC remains the company implementing the current KSh41.9 billion construction and equipping contract, following the earlier exit of Turkish firm Summa from the project.
About the Author
