Government to relocate Kenya National Archives from Nairobi CBD over security concerns

The government has announced plans to relocate the Kenya National Archives from Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) to a safer and quieter location, citing security threats and the need for a more conducive research environment.

Speaking on Thursday, August 21, Principal Secretary for Gender and Culture, Ummi Bashir, said recent protests in the city had exposed the building to risks, with some demonstrators allegedly attempting to torch the iconic site.

“We would like to safeguard our assets and move the Archives to an environment where researchers can work comfortably and securely,” said the PS.

For many Nairobi residents, the National Archives has long been more than a heritage site; it doubles as a cultural hub and one of the city’s most popular meeting points.

The building, which sits between Tom Mboya Street and Moi Avenue, was initially constructed in 1930 to serve as a bank before later being converted into the National Archives by an Act of Parliament after independence.

Inside, it houses a rich collection of Kenya’s history, including over 40,000 photographs, artefacts, parliamentary records, books, and traditional African art. Its holdings were recently boosted by over 300,000 digitized colonial-era files returned from the United Kingdom.

The relocation, officials say, is aimed at ensuring the preservation of these invaluable national treasures while making them more accessible to researchers and the public.