Government to Relocate National Archives From Nairobi CBD Over Security Concerns
The government has revealed plans to move the historic Kenya National Archives from its current home in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD).
Officials explained that the decision follows rising security concerns, especially after the recent youth-led protests in the city, during which some demonstrators allegedly attempted to set the building on fire.
Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, August 21, Gender and Culture Principal Secretary (PS) Ummi Bashir said the government wants to transfer the Archives to a safer, quieter, and more accessible location.
According to her, the relocation is not only about protecting the building but also about ensuring that scholars, historians, and other researchers can work in a more conducive environment.
“We are looking at how best to safeguard the national assets housed in this building. At the same time, we want to place it in an environment where researchers can comfortably produce quality work without disruptions,” PS Bashir noted.
For many Kenyans, the National Archives is more than just a storehouse of records. Over the years, it has become one of Nairobi’s most recognizable landmarks and a common meeting point for city residents. Its unique architecture and cultural significance have made it an integral part of the CBD’s identity.
The structure, which sits strategically between Tom Mboya Street and Moi Avenue, was originally designed in 1930 to serve as a bank. For more than three decades, it hosted the headquarters of the National and Grindlays Bank.
Following independence, the government officially transformed it into the Kenya National Archives through an Act of Parliament, giving it a new role as the guardian of public records and national heritage.
Inside the building, visitors encounter an extensive collection of African art and cultural items. The displays include basketry, pottery, beadwork, textiles, sculptures, paintings, traditional weaponry, photography, and ornamental pieces that reflect Kenya’s diverse cultural heritage.
Beyond the exhibitions, the Archives safeguards over 40,000 historical photographs, valuable parliamentary records, books, documents, and artefacts collected from different regions of the country.
In recent years, the institution has also expanded its collection thanks to international partnerships. The United Kingdom, for instance, handed over more than 300,000 digitized colonial-era files that had been kept secret and stored in Britain for decades.
These documents have since enriched the Archives’ collection, making it an even more important resource for historians, researchers, and the general public.
The government’s decision to relocate the National Archives has stirred mixed feelings. While some Kenyans agree that the move could enhance security and provide a better environment for research, others fear it could take away from the building’s symbolic value as part of Nairobi’s identity.
For now, all eyes remain on the Ministry of Gender and Culture to announce the new proposed site for the Archives and the timelines for the relocation.
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