The government of Kenya has bashed Gachagua for allegedly claiming that it has sold the Bomas of Kenya to a Turkish national.
Gachagua, during a church service at ACK Holy Trinity Church in Kitengela on Sunday, said that the government, with the approval of the Cabinet, had sold the iconic tourist village to the Turk.
“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,” he stated.
He maintained that during his time as deputy president, he opposed the sale, which had extended to prison lands across the country.
“The people from civil aviation opposed it, but the President went ahead and sold it. We are on our own. All prison lands have been sold. All prisons need to be relocated. Even churches built on these lands, including Catholic and SDA churches, will be demolished,” he said.
In refuting Gachagua’s allegations, the Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy, Denis Itumbi, reiterated that the former deputy president’s statement was false and misleading.
“His remarks alleging that the facility has been sold to a Turkish national are not only baseless but also a desperate attempt to mislead the public and derail national progress,” Itumbi’s statement read in part.
Itumbi asserted that the government was simply refurbishing the facility into an international conference and cultural center. He maintained that the Ruto-led administration had not engaged in any purchase discussions with any foreign entity.
He said that upon modernization and expansion, Bomas of Kenya will contain, “An 11,000-seater modern arena providing a much-needed venue for Kenya’s thriving creative industry. The facilities include a Commercial Presidential Villas Street, offering premium accommodation and amenities for high-level delegates and earning revenue for Kenya. A revitalized cultural hub, ensuring the preservation and promotion of Kenya’s rich heritage alongside modern development,” he noted.
The Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy also said that Gachagua had repeatedly claimed that he opposed various government projects in Cabinet, assuming that no one would challenge his claims due to the confidential nature of Cabinet discussions.
Culture Principal Secretary Ummi Bashir also echoed Itumbi’s statement, saying that Bomas of Kenya is a national heritage and will remain a government property. She assured Kenyans that its ownership will not change.
“Bomas of Kenya has not been sold to anyone. The development of the Bomas International Convention Complex (BICC) was approved by Cabinet on 8th August 2023, after a Cabinet Memorandum presented by the then Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage, Hon Peninah Malonza, EGH,” Bashir said.
“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.”
Bomas of Kenya was established in 1971 and has since acted as a venue for showcasing Kenya’s diverse cultures from different ethnic groups.
