In the heart of Nairobi’s bustling Central Business District, there stands a grand old building, a silent sentinel of Kenya’s past and a beacon of its cultural heritage. Many people know it as the Kenya National Archives building, an iconic landmark that not only marks the geography of the city but also serves as a rendezvous point for friends and strangers alike. While the exterior of the building is a testament to Nairobi’s ceaseless motion, as soon as you step inside, you are transported to a different time, a place where Kenya’s history comes to life.
The story of Kenya National Archives is rooted in the annals of colonial history. In 1956, during British colonial rule, the archives were established in the dimly lit basement of Jogoo House. After Kenya gained independence, the Kenyan government took the initiative to secure its historical legacy. An Act of Parliament in 1965 birthed the Kenya National Archives and Documentation Services, tasked with identifying, cataloguing, and repatriating documents that had been taken away by the British colonial regime. The archives grew slowly, evolving from its humble basement beginnings to its present location on Moi Avenue in the late ‘70s, a building once housing the National Bank of India and later the Kenya Commercial Bank. It is fitting that the documents are stored in old bank vaults, guarding the precious history of a nation.
Today, the Kenya National Archives hold a treasure trove of historical documents spanning the colonial era and the postcolonial period. However, access to these materials is granted only after a considerable 30-year period has passed. This institution stands out as one of the few on the African continent that successfully repatriated its archives from Britain, proudly safeguarding 40,000 volumes of public records in various formats, both written and audiovisual.
Within the archives building is the Murumbi Gallery, an enchanting space named after Joseph Murumbi, Kenya’s second vice president. The gallery is a testament to his passion for preserving Africa’s heritage. It is the largest Pan-African art gallery on the continent, housing ancient art collections from diverse regions and communities across Africa. Dr. Maina David Kagombe, the first African Director of the Archives, took bold steps to protect these cultural treasures, issuing a gazette notice in March 1976 that prevented anyone, including Murumbi, from selling antiquities of natural cultural value abroad. Thus, Murumbi sold his collection to the government of Kenya, ensuring that these precious artefacts remain on their ancestral soil.
The importance of the Kenya National Archives as a repository of Kenyan culture cannot be overstated. It is a place where history breathes, where the stories of a nation are told through the pages of documents and the beauty of art. And remarkably, it remains accessible to all who seek to connect with their heritage, requiring only a modest fee of Ksh. 50 to unlock the treasures within.
As we celebrate the Kenya National Archives, we celebrate a place where #KeCultureLives, where the past and the present converge to illuminate the path toward a brighter future. It is a reminder that our cultural legacy is not just stored within the vaults but also within our hearts, waiting to be rediscovered and cherished by generations to come.