The Kenyan government has firmly denied allegations by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that Bomas of Kenya has been sold to a Turkish national. In a statement on Monday, Culture Principal Secretary Ummi Bashir refuted the claims, calling them “shocking” and misleading.
Speaking at a church service in Kitengela, Kajiado County, on Sunday, Gachagua alleged that President William Ruto’s Cabinet had approved the sale of the State-owned heritage site. He further claimed that he was the only Cabinet member who opposed the transaction, which he said also included prison lands.
“As we speak, Bomas of Kenya has been sold to a Turkish national. The Cabinet was informed, and I was the only one who opposed it. I stood firm and said this is a national heritage; we cannot sell it,” Gachagua stated.
However, PS Bashir dismissed these assertions, emphasizing that the government had only approved the refurbishment of the cultural center and the development of the Bomas International Convention Complex (BICC). She clarified that the Cabinet approved the project on August 8, 2023, based on a memorandum presented by the then Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife, and Heritage, Peninah Malonza.
“The idea of refurbishing and upgrading Bomas of Kenya is not new and has been in consideration for the past 10 years. Nevertheless, it is the current administration that has given impetus to its actualization,” Bashir stated.
She assured the public that Bomas of Kenya remains a government-owned facility held in trust for the people of Kenya. “Its ownership shall not change, as it is held in trust on behalf of the people of the Republic of Kenya, for posterity,” she affirmed.
Gachagua, who has been vocal in his criticism of the Ruto administration since his impeachment last October, also claimed that Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) officials had objected to the purported sale, citing its location within a flight path.
Established in 1971, Bomas of Kenya serves as a cultural and tourism hub, preserving and showcasing Kenya’s diverse ethnic traditions. It remains one of the country’s most significant heritage sites.
