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About

The Kenya National Archives and Documentation Services (KNADS) is located at the bustling heart of Nairobi along Moi Avenue next to the Ambassadeur Hotel. It was established in 1965, holds 40,000 volumes, and is used mainly by students and researchers.

The National Archive's ground floor atrium and public gallery contain an eclectic selection of contemporary art, historical photos of Nairobi, cultural artefacts, furniture, weapons and musical instruments. The first floor houses a collection of photographs of President Moi’s early history and some Mau Mau detention camp photos.

The Kenya National Archives building also houses the Murumbi Gallery on the ground floor, which contains African artefacts collected in the 19th century. The gallery is named after Joseph Murumbi, the second vice president of Kenya. It is currently the largest Pan-African art gallery in Africa and contains ancient art collections from different regions and communities of Africa. The government of Kenya acquired the collected artefacts after a concessionary arrangement was agreed upon with Joseph Murumbi. He had initially turned down several huge offers to buy his collections by overseas bidders.

FAQs

How much is Kenya National Archives Entrance Fee?

All citizens and residents pay a fee of 50 Kenyan shillings to access the Kenya National Archives.

What is stored in Kenya National Archives?

The Kenya Archive collections include archival material, many once confidential, of the colonial and post-colonial government of Kenya up to the early 1960s. They provide a complete account of equatorial Africa's social, political, economic, and religious development problems.