Kenya is set to construct a new Convention Centre, the Bomas International Convention Centre, in Nairobi, as well as five hotels with 2 000-bed capacity.

The country has hosted high-profile meetings, including the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, which was attended by US President Barack Obama in July last year, and the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference, which took place last December.

This year, Kenya hosted meetings that included the 14th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD 14) and the sixth Tokyo International Conference of Africa’s Development (TICAD).

Tenders for the proposed Convention Centre are expected to be floated before the end of this year to pave the way for the construction of the facility next year.

According to Kenyan Tourism Minister, Najib Balala, the conference facility will be built at a cost of $561 million next year through public-private partnership.

He said the new convention centre would have the capacity to host 10 000 delegates and also feature exhibition space.

Balala said the new centre would supplement the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, which has for decades hosted lots of international conferences. “The new Bomas International Convention Centre will create more room and comfort as well as ease pressure on KICC,” he said.