Bomas of Kenya

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Bomas of Kenya
BomasLuoVillage.JPG
The Luo village at the Bomas of Kenya
Bomas of Kenya
EstablishedOctober 1971;53 years ago (October 1971)
Location Langata, Nairobi
Coordinates 1°20′13″S36°46′09″E / 1.33681°S 36.769095°E / -1.33681; 36.769095
Type Cultural center
Website www.bomasofkenya.co.ke

Bomas of Kenya is a tourist village in Langata, Nairobi, in Kenya. Bomas interpreted to mean (homesteads) displays traditional villages belonging to the several Kenyan tribes. [1] Bomas of Kenya is home to one of the largest auditoriums in Africa. It is located approximately 10km from Nairobi's central business district.

Contents

It is a State Corporation under the Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts & Heritage.

Origin

Kenya's independent government in 1965 established the Kenya Tourist Development Corporation (KTDC), under the then Ministry of Information and Tourism. It was through this body that the Bomas Of Kenya was established in October 1971, under the ingenuity of Barack Obama Snr. [2] It was mandated to preserve and promote cultural tourism, with showcases of different Kenyan traditional cultures in their authentic forms. [3] He proposed its current location, which was convenient enough to target the tourists who were visiting the nearby Nairobi National Park. [2]

Cultural Tourism

Political and Constitutional Importance

The Constitution of Kenya Review Commission (CKRC) was mandated to organize a National Constitutional Conference in accordance with section 27(1)(1) of the Constitution of Kenya Review Act.

The Draft Constitution of Kenya 2004, commonly known as The Bomas Draft, was the outcome of the National Constitutional Conference held at the Bomas of Kenya for a total of 139 days from April 2003 to 2004: [10]

The Bomas draft proposed to significantly reduce presidential powers and create a powerful prime minister. It also called for a much devolved form of parliamentary government, with different tiers of government. [11] [12] [13]

Moreover, Bomas of Kenya has always been the National Tallying Centre for the Kenyan elections over the years, including in 2022. [14] [15] [16]

Renovations

In March 2025, The Bomas of Kenya was temporarily closed for a major renovation and upgrading of the facility. This was confirmed through a cabinet meeting circular released from the government. [17] [18]

The process will include the construction of the Bomas International Convention Complex (BICC), aimed at positioning Nairobi as a leading Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions destination. [19] [20]

Turkish company, Summa Turizm Yatirimciligi Anonim Sirketi, won the tender bid for renovations and construction, after a Kenyan court case decision went in their favor. [21] [22] [23]

See also

  1. National Museums of Kenya
  2. Karen Blixen Museum, Kenya
  3. Nairobi Gallery
  4. Nairobi Railway Museum
  5. African Heritage House
  6. Kenya National Archives

References

  1. Gorham, M. Victoria (September 2020). "Displaying the Nation: Museums and Nation-Building in Tanzania and Kenya" . African Studies Review. 63 (3): 487–517. doi:10.1017/asr.2020.54. ISSN   0002-0206.
  2. 1 2 "How Barack Obama Sr's brilliance changed Kenya". Daily Nation. 4 July 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  3. "Our cultural homestead". Daily Nation. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  4. Coombes, Annie E. (2019). Managing Heritage, Making Peace: History, Identity and Memory in Contemporary Kenya. International library of African studies. Lotte Hughes, Karega-Munene. London: I. B. Tauris & Company, Limited. ISBN   978-1-78076-152-7.
  5. Opondo, Patricia A. (May 2000). "Cultural Policies in Kenya" . Arts Education Policy Review. 101 (5): 18–24. doi:10.1080/10632910009600269. ISSN   1063-2913.
  6. Grieveesbon Mwangi, Muhoro; Wishitemi, Bob; M Okello, Moses (2020). "Diversity of Cultural Tourism Attractions in Nairobi Urban Destination". Journal of Tourism Management Research. 7 (2): 247–257. doi: 10.18488/journal.31.2020.72.247.257 .
  7. Franco, Susanne (August 2015). "Reenacting Heritage at Bomas of Kenya: Dancing the Postcolony". Dance Research Journal. 47 (2): 5–21. doi:10.1017/S0149767715000170. hdl: 10278/3673871 . ISSN   0149-7677.
  8. Kiiru, Kahithe (2014). "Bomas of Kenya : local dances put to the test of the national stage".{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. "Bomas of Kenya: A repository of the country's cultural heritage". Daily Nation. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  10. "Intrigues behind fall of Bomas Draft, steps to Second Republic". Daily Nation. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  11. Whitaker, Beth Elise; Giersch, Jason (January 2009). "Voting on a constitution: Implications for democracy in Kenya" . Journal of Contemporary African Studies. 27 (1): 1–20. doi:10.1080/02589000802576657. ISSN   0258-9001.
  12. "Revisiting 2004 Bomas Draft to cure Kenya's governance woes". The Star. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  13. "How plan for 14 counties was hijacked to create 47". Daily Nation. 6 September 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  14. Mayabi, Lordrick (20 February 2013). "Bomas now a restricted area - Kibaki". Capital News. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  15. Wanambisi, Laban (25 July 2017). "National Tallying Centre at Bomas ready by week end, IEBC says". Capital News. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  16. "Bomas of Kenya: National tallying centre's new status of highly-guarded facility". Daily Nation. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  17. "Kenya's Cabinet Approves Major Infrastructure, Economic, and Social Reforms - NewsTrendsKE". 11 March 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  18. "Ruto: Modernisation of the Bomas of Kenya to begin in 2 weeks". The Star. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  19. "Bomas of Kenya under renovation to make it a world-class facility - PS Bashir". The Star. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  20. "Govt responds to reports that Bomas of Kenya has been sold". People Daily. 10 March 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  21. "Win for Turkish firm in bid for Sh31 billion Bomas tender". Daily Nation. 14 April 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  22. Gitonga, Nancy. "Turkish firm wins Sh31.6 billion Bomas renovation tender row". The Standard. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  23. Nkirote, Miriam (16 April 2025). "Turkish Contractor Wins Sh32bn Bomas Complex Battle". CK. Retrieved 26 May 2025.