GOVERNMENT PLANS TO RELOCATE KENYA NATIONAL ARCHIVES FROM NAIROBI CBD

The government is set to move the Kenya National Archives (KNADS) from its current location in Nairobi’s Central Business District to a more secure and research-friendly environment.
Culture, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Hanna Cheptumo said the relocation is necessary to safeguard the country’s heritage, citing heightened security concerns during recent protests in the city centre.
“The archives are a national treasure. We must protect our assets and provide a conducive environment for research and preservation,” she said.
Permanent Secretary Ummi Bashir added that the new facility will address challenges faced at the Moi Avenue premises, including noise, congestion, and lack of parking space. She noted that the move will also support scholars and researchers who require a calm atmosphere.
The relocation comes as Kenya recently received over 300,000 digitised colonial-era files and advanced IT infrastructure from the United Kingdom to support the digitisation of records. Officials say the growing volume of both physical and digital data requires a larger and better-equipped space.
Historians and cultural experts have also long called for the archives to be moved, with Uhuru Gardens among the suggested sites for a new home.
The government is expected to announce the proposed location and timelines for the relocation in the coming months.