The Kisumu International Convention Centre (KCC) , also known as the Africities Convention Centre, was conceived as a transformative project for the lakeside city. Located at the Mamboleo ASK Showground and valued at approximately KSh 1.5 billion , it was designed to position Kisumu as a premier destination for conference tourism in the Lake Victoria Basin.
However, as of mid-2026, the project stands at a critical juncture. While officially stated to be 85% complete, local monitoring indicates significant delays, with the facility partially stalled and incomplete, prompting calls for national government intervention to finalize it .
A History of Delays
Originally initiated in July 2021 to host the 9th Africities Summit in mid-2022, the facility missed its delivery schedule and has experienced rolling timelines . The 38-week construction period was reviewed and extended to 73 weeks, ending in December 2022 .
By November 2022, the project was only 55% complete . The project has been idle since the 2023/24 financial year due to a lack of funding, with contractors downing their tools over non-payment of certified works amounting to Sh214.8 million .
Facility Specifications
Once completed, it is positioned to become Kenya’s third-largest convention facility after the KICC and Bomas of Kenya. The facility features :
Capacity: A 5,000 to 6,000-seat main auditorium, 15 breakaway rooms, and 60 distinct exhibition spaces, a VIP lounge, press rooms, a cultural center, and a health center.
Outdoor features: An outdoor amphitheater, a picnic area, and a children’s park.
A Transformative Hub
The convention center sits within a rapidly transforming hub in the Mamboleo area. It shares grounds with the adjacent, fully functional 30,000-capacity Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium. Additionally, the broader neighborhood is getting a boost from the active KSh 16 billion Mamboleo–Kipsitet Road project, which is expanding the local transit network into a four-lane carriageway to improve regional accessibility.
Economic Impact and Future Outlook
This project will create a lot of direct and indirect jobs for the people of Kisumu City when completed. The Kisumu International Convention Centre has the potential to revolutionize conference tourism, attract international business meetings, and greatly increase economic activity in the region .
According to the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Devolution, completing the project will require an extra Sh1.577 billion .
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