Bomas International Convention Complex Nears Completion With Major Solar Upgrade

Work on transforming Bomas of Kenya into a major international conference and events destination is gaining momentum. Crews continue to install solar panels as construction advances on the Ksh45 billion Bomas International Convention Complex.

The new facility will generate 3.5 megawatts of solar power, making renewable energy a key part of its long-term operations. The government aims to create a modern, energy-efficient venue for conferences and events.

Acting Bomas of Kenya Chief Executive John Okidiang said the complex would include enough storage to ensure a reliable electricity supply for its various facilities.

“We are going to generate 3.5 megawatts from the solar panels that are placed here, and we have sufficient storage for them. The solar will be able to ensure that it supplies various facilities that will be developed at PSC,” Okidiang said.

Workers are installing the solar panels alongside the convention complex’s construction. The building’s architectural design also incorporates features intended to support environmental sustainability.

Kenya Defence Forces chief architect and project officer Lieutenant Colonel F Amondi said designers drew inspiration from the acacia tree. The building’s structural columns take the form of the tree’s trunk and branches.

“The architectural concept is the acacia tree. The columns, as you can see, take the shape of the branches and the trunk of the acacia tree. The top is very flat, and we are taking advantage of that to have our solar panels to ensure that we also have sustainability in the building and make it green,” Amondi said.

Kenya Defence Forces chief architect and project officer Lieutenant Colonel F Amondi

The complex will accommodate up to 11,000 people, far exceeding the capacity of the existing Bomas facilities, which host about 1,000. The expanded venue will strengthen Kenya’s ability to host large international conferences, exhibitions, conventions, and other high-profile gatherings.

Plans include a 5,000-seat convention hall, a 3,500-seat auditorium, a 2,500-capacity ballroom, and more than 20 meeting rooms. The wider development will also include hospitality, commercial, cultural, and recreational facilities, creating a comprehensive destination for meetings and events.

The Bomas International Convention Complex features an architectural design inspired by the iconic African acacia tree, with its trunk and branches reflected in the structural columns and traditional thatched Bomas influencing the exterior detailing.

Amondi said the military had taken part in the project from its early stages and was committed to delivering a facility that meets the required standards.

“When I first came to Bomas, it was still a skeleton. Our main role in this project is to ensure we deliver not only on time, but also ensure proper quality and value for what we are receiving,” she said.

Officials are targeting completion by the end of 2026.

Once the complex opens, officials expect it to support Kenya’s efforts to grow its Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism sector and attract more international events. The solar installation will help meet the expanded development’s energy needs while supporting the complex’s sustainability goals.

More photos below.

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