The Kenya National Archives is a popular meeting point for many Nairobi dwellers.
This landmark that is located in CBD is helpful for many including Nairobi first timers as they try to figure out their way around the city.
Because of the large population around archives on a daily basis, businesses are booming. You wouldn’t also miss conmen who are trying to prey on vulnerable individuals.
With the buzzing activities outside, many are however unaware of what really happens inside archives. Most of Nairobi residents haven’t even set foot in the building.
What really is inside archives?
The Kenya National Archives and Documentation Services(KNADS) was established in 1965 by a parliament Act. It was tasked with managing all public records.
“It was revised in 1990 to incorporate the National Documentation and Information Retrieval Service, created to cater for government publications and other generally circulated documents,” the KNADs’ website states.
Currently, KNADS is placed under the ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage. It is specifically under the State Department for Culture, the Arts and Heritage. More archives branches are in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Kakamega, and Nyeri.
The famous Nairobi building contains at least 40,000 volumes. These includes, artefacts(that have been collected around Africa) and ‘photos that define Kenya’s history and culture. It contains public records of memorable national events. Additionally, National Archives houses the Murumbi gallery, which contains African artefacts that were collected in the 19th century.
The Murumbi gallery is named after the second Vice President of Kenya Joseph Murumbi. There is also a library and a search room.
Most people who visit archives are researchers. There are however national records that are not available to everyone and have been preserved as state secret. These include,; records from presidencies, executive orders, speeches and presidential standards of head of state. These are only available to a few people and in most cases government officials.
The Archives is mandated with caring for, examining and determine custody for all public records. The Director of National Archives is in charge of regulating conditions under which interested Kenyans can inspect records. Other services offered include digitisation and micro-filming.
Below are some of the photos that have been taken inside the building.
Requirements for visiting Archives
Kenyans are charged an entrance fee of Kshs50 while non-residents part with Kshs200 to access archives. It is open on Monday to Friday from 8am-5pm. On Saturdays, the building is open from 8am-12pm. It remains closed during Sundays and public holidays.
