Ulwazi Place expansion targets Kenya’s growing conference tourism market
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 29 – Kenya’s conference tourism sector has received a boost following the expansion of Ulwazi Place, a meetings and hospitality facility located within the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) campus in Nairobi.
The facility, situated in the Kitisuru area and managed by Trianum Hospitality, has added a new meetings and conference wing aimed at accommodating growing demand for international conferences, institutional meetings and business events in Kenya.
The expansion comes as Kenya positions itself as a regional hub for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism, a sector that continues to attract international visitors and investment.
According to the 2026 Economic Survey, Kenya recorded 2.5 million tourist arrivals in 2025, with about a quarter of visitors traveling for business-related activities.
The upgraded Ulwazi Place facility can now host more than 1,000 guests across various spaces including conference rooms, boardrooms, accommodation facilities, a ballroom, rooftop event venue, restaurants and outdoor meeting areas.
Speaking during the launch, Principal Secretary for Science, Research and Innovation Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak said the facility is expected to support collaboration among researchers, innovators and policymakers.
“Ulwazi Place is not simply a physical structure. It is a platform for ideas and collaboration where research can help shape solutions for African challenges,” he said.
APHRC officials noted that the expanded facility will also help the institution host more international researchers, development partners and policy forums within its own premises.
Dr. Joseph Gichuru, Deputy Executive Director at APHRC, said the facility would strengthen the organization’s role as a regional convening center.
“The strategic expansion of the hotel will enable us to host more meetings and discussions that contribute to shaping Africa’s development agenda,” he said.
Trianum Hospitality, which manages the facility, said Ulwazi Place has grown significantly from a small meeting venue into a larger conference destination over the years.
Mutheu Muna-Mwaniki, Director of Compliance at Trianum Hospitality, said the facility was designed to provide collaboration spaces within a quiet and landscaped environment suitable for professional gatherings.
“The facility has transitioned from a small meeting site accommodating about 60 people into a conference hub capable of hosting more than 1,000 guests,” she said.
The facility’s design also incorporates African-inspired themes under the concept “Tembea Africa,” with interiors reflecting the continent’s savanna, desert, tropical and coastal landscapes.
Kenya has increasingly been investing in conference tourism as part of a broader strategy to diversify the tourism sector beyond traditional leisure travel.
Under the government’s “Experience Wonder” tourism strategy, Kenya aims to attract 5.5 million international visitors annually by 2027 through investments in conference tourism, wellness tourism, sports tourism and digital nomad infrastructure.
Trianum Hospitality Chief Executive Officer Liza Uku said Nairobi’s position as a diplomatic and business hub makes it attractive for conference tourism investments.
“We are excited to launch the new wing of Ulwazi Place, especially because of its strategic location near the United Nations offices and other diplomatic organizations in Nairobi,” she said.