The Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), formerly known as the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, is a landmark 28-story building situated in Nairobi, Kenya. It is located in the City Square of Nairobi, making it a crucial address for numerous Government offices, including those of recently elected Senators.
The KICC has been recognized as one of the top venues for hosting conferences on the African continent. It is an internationally renowned venue for conferences, meetings, exhibitions, and special events, conveniently located within walking distance of several five-star hotels.
Historical Background
The Kenyatta International Conference Centre, locally known as the "KICC", was commissioned in 1967 by Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, the first President of the Republic of Kenya.
The KICC's origins can be traced back to the commission by Kenya’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta, and the Kenyan African National Union (Kanu) Party. The building was designed by Karl Henrik Nøstvik with David Mutiso. Construction was carried out by Solel Boneh & Factah in three phases:
- Phase I: Construction of the podium
- Phase II: Construction of the main tower
- Phase III: Construction of the Plenary
Construction was completed in 1973, with the opening ceremony presided over by President Kenyatta in September of the same year. The KICC was then established as a State Corporation under the Tourism Act of 2011, which came into operation on September 1, 2012.
KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE: Kenya's Beacon of Progress & Possibilities
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In 1972, before the Centre was officially opened, Kenya became the first developing country to host a UN headquarters meeting after intense diplomatic debate. UNEP, as it became to be known, had its first headquarters in the KICC. A few years later in 1976, the Global Forest was launched, an area where dignitaries who visited Kenya planted a tree to mark their visit to Kenya. Dr. Mostafa Tolba, the then Deputy Executive Director of UNEP, planted the first tree at the Global Forest. Several world leaders and heads of governments have since planted trees in the section.
When it started its operations 50 years ago, it became the venue for an international conference, the Annual Meetings of the Board of Governors of the World Bank Group and the IMF, one of the first largest international conferences to take place in Africa. Since then, Kenya has claimed its slot in the business tourism industry locally and internationally, which has seen it host other historical and high profile conferences and events including but not limited to; The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Executive council meeting, The AGOA Forum, E.U.
Architectural Significance
Conceptualized in the 1960s by Norwegian architect Karl Henrik Nøstvik, the KICC was designed to be a modernist symbol of an independent Kenya in the post-colonial era. Founding president Jomo Kenyatta laid the foundation stone in December 1967.
Fast-forward to October 2018, when Kenyan architect David Mutiso set social media alight with a yet-unheard claim that the iconic building “was inspired by a donkey’s penis”. Geneva-based architect and urban researcher, Prof Manuel Herz, said the iconic building “went through two distinct planning phases”.
Herz and Shadi Rahbaran, his colleague at ETH Basel Studio, authored Nairobi, Kenya: Migration Shaping the City, which deals in part with the history of the KICC. “The blueprints from these years state that Karl Nøstvik was responsible for the design,” Herz said. “At the end of 1970, Nøstvik left the Ministry of Works and opened his own private architectural practice in Nairobi.
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But Herz pointed out that an architectural design “is never done just by a single person”. “So I am sure that Mutiso had his input on the design in the years until 1970, but that Nøstvik was either the main architect of the building (signing the drawings) or at least majorly involved during that time.
“I have never heard the ‘donkey’s penis’ association before,” said Nina Frang Høyum of Norway’s National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design. She provided other accounts of the building’s inspiration.
“You can also ask: What’s the relevance of this supposed metaphor of the ‘donkey’s penis’? What is important is that the building is magnificent, and a great piece of architecture offering wonderful spaces and a great climate.
The building’s cylindrical shape and the decorative pillar-supported roof is modeled after traditional African drum architecture and motifs. This unique exterior stands at 105 meters tall, with 28 floors that contain 100,000 square meters of conference facilities.
The structural brilliance of KICC Kenya, officially classified as a skyscraper with 34 floors reaching a height of 105 meters, paid homage to traditional African architecture with its terracotta facade.
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Facilities and Features
The KICC currently stands as the ninth tallest building in Kenya, reaching a height of just over 105 meters. After completion, the building held the rank of the tallest building in Nairobi up until the construction of Teleposta Towers. It succeeded the Hilton Nairobi as the tallest building in Kenya, a position it held for 26 years before being surpassed by Teleposta Tower.
There are several well-equipped conference and meeting rooms with the largest having a capacity over 6,000 delegates. The largest conference chamber of its kind in East Africa, the plenary is fortified with sound proof grey stone, deep natural wood and lofty ceilings. It caters for large international meetings, exhibitions and grand balls, and has a capacity of 5000 people.
The KICC is equipped with Simultaneous Interpretation Equipment with a capability of up to seven languages, a modern business centre, a banking facility, tour and travel services, expansive grounds and ample and secure parking. It is equipped with Advanced Sound Amplification & recording systems, Wireless Simultaneous interpretation Equipment (up to 7 languages) booths, and observer galleries.
With tiered seating for 880 people, advanced sound systems, and multimedia capabilities. With a skylight that floods in natural like make this unusually for an Amphitheater as a lot of them do not have any windows, which makes this space nice and light.
Stepping into the grandeur of the ballroom, East Africa’s largest conference chamber, visitors encountered soundproof grey stone, natural wood, and lofty ceilings.
| Facility | Capacity | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Plenary Hall | 5,000 | Soundproof stone, natural wood, lofty ceilings, advanced sound systems, wireless interpretation equipment |
| Amphitheater | 880 | Tiered seating, advanced sound systems, multimedia capabilities, skylight |
| Conference Rooms | Various | Well-equipped, suitable for meetings and conferences |
Additional Features
Up until the 1980s, there was a 'revolving restaurant' atop the KICC that was popular with politicians and the elite, but years of neglect literally brought it to a halt, though concerted efforts in 2012 to revive it were somewhat short lived. The story of the now-deserted revolving restaurant, which shut down in the 1990s, unfolded.
Ascending to the topmost floors of KICC Kenya, visitors discovered the helipad, repurposed as a viewing platform with 360-degree views of Nairobi. This is a paved 75 square meter courtyard surrounding the 1971 statue of Kenyatta by James Butler. The courtyard was designed as a respite for those attending conferences and includes gardens, pools and geyser fountains.
KICC Today
Whereas the centre is known as a leading meeting venue in Nairobi, its national mandate following the Act became to nurture and promote the country as a destination most preferred for business travel and MICE tourism.
Over the decades, the KICC has hosted major events that make history. In 1985, the International Women’s Conference was held here, spearheaded by Winnie Mandela and Margaret Kenyatta. The building was also the site for developing Kenya’s constitution in 2005.
The Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) marked its 50th anniversary in September 11 this year 2023. The magnificent masterpiece that is the KICC has been and still remains the country’s icon and symbol since its inception in 1973. The Centre forms part of Kenya’s history and a companion that define and shape the country’s future. It remains part of Kenya’s rich heritage and provides a platform for the country to leap into its future.It is the symbol of Kenya’s capital, a symbol of socio-economic power for Kenya within the region. Its unique feature can only be associated with Kenya and not any other place. It’s a source of identity.
Guided tours are available, taking visitors through the impressive Plenary Hall, open-air rooftop terrace, art displays and more inside this architectural marvel. The lobby also contains a memorial to Jomo Kenyatta.
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