Kenya National Archives Entrance Fees 2024

In this article, we will look at Kenya National Archives Entrance Fees. Kenya National Archives and Documentation Services (KNADS) is situated at the edge of the central business district in downtown Nairobi along Moi Avenue next to Ambassadeur Hotel. It was established in 1965 and It holds 40,000 volumes.

It was established by an Act of the Parliament of Kenya in 1965 and was placed under the office of the Vice President and the Minister of Home Affairs. It is currently under the office of the Vice-President and State Department for National Heritage and Culture.

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

When you step through the Kenya National Archives entrance, you are pleasantly surprised at the exhibition that greets you at the Murumbi Gallery on the ground floor. It is not what you would expect to find in a place whose raison d’être is the care and preservation of all public records and archives in Kenya. When the late Joseph Murumbi and his wife Sheila sold their impressive African arts and crafts collection to the Government of Kenya in the 1980s, it was displayed as the main attraction at the Kenya National Archives. The collection takes you on a cultural tour of the African continent, showcasing the traditional implements and crafts used in days gone by in different parts of the continent.

You get to see some of the ancient African art, crafts, and functional items that inspired and influenced some of the world’s most celebrated artists like Matisse and Picasso. Masks, weaponry, cowbells, traditional attire, tapestry, furniture, cooking implements, and many other artefacts from the Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Mali, Mauritius, and other parts of this vast continent, are on display. You also get to see the rich diversity of cultures in Kenya, from the intricate coastal Swahili craftsmanship to the Maasai ornaments and utilities that are still in use today.

Aside from the Murumbi Trust exhibition on the ground floor gallery, the Kenya National Archives has a photo exhibition of Kenya’s journey from the colonial era to the present day, in their first floor gallery. It highlights key figures in Kenya’s struggle for independence and various events and personalities who played a role in shaping this country. The late Murumbi’s large collection of rare African books is also available for review at the Library in the Kenya National Archives. The Murumbis’ final resting place is the public cemetery at the Nairobi City Park in the Parklands area of Nairobi.

What is found in Kenya National Archives

1. Microfilm

Over the years, KNADS has generated several microfilm collections on different aspects of fascinating histories all managed and controlled for public use at Kenya National Archives.

2. Audio Visual

Over the years, KNADS has generated several audio and visual collections on different aspects of fascinating histories all managed and controlled for public use at Kenya National Archives.

3. Library

Over the years, KNADS has generated several library books collections on different aspects of fascinating histories all managed and controlled for public use at Kenya National Archives.

4. Search Room

Well-equipped search room for local and international researchers at Kenya National Archives, welcome!

Role of Kenya National Archives

To preserve valuable public records as part of the information resources of the Republic of Kenya, and to make them accessible to present and future generations. To fulfil this mission, the Kenya National Archives and Documentation Service continues to:

Advise public offices on proper records management.
Select valuable records for permanent preservation as archives.
Store and preserve archives in the repositories.
Publicize the availability of information resources in our custody through the computerization of indexes, digitization, the World Wide Web; and through the use of other communications and information technologies.
Promote access to public records and archives for reference and research purposes, or just for leisure and enjoyment.