The National Library Service of Kenya (KNLS) plays a vital role in preserving the nation’s intellectual heritage, promoting literacy, and enabling access to knowledge across Kenya. Established by an act of Parliament in 1965 and headquartered at Maktaba Kuu in Nairobi, KNLS operates a wide network of 64 libraries, reaching both urban and rural communities.
Mandated by Cap 225 of the Laws of Kenya, the National Library Service of Kenya provides legal deposit services, publishes the Kenya National Bibliography, issues ISBNs, and serves as a hub for free public knowledge. Its transformation into a hybrid of national and devolved library services post-2010 constitutional reforms has made information more accessible to Kenya’s 16 million service population.
History and Legal Mandate
KNLS was founded in 1965 to create a unified public library system across Kenya. Early library access had been racially segregated, with institutions like Seif Bin Salim Library (1903) and McMillan Memorial Library (1931) originally serving only Europeans and Asians. The colonial-era Desai Memorial Library followed the same pattern until public access expanded in the 1960s.
After Kenya’s independence, reports by the East African Library Association and British Council consultants pushed for the development of a national, inclusive library system. By 1965, the Kenya National Library Service Act formalized the KNLS Board’s operations, laying the foundation for a truly national service.
KNLS Functions and Services
KNLS operates under the Ministry of Sports, Culture & Heritage, and serves both as a National Library and Public Library system. Its core mandates include:
- Preserving Kenya’s National Imprint through legal deposit
- Issuing ISBNs and ISMN codes
- Publishing the Kenya National Bibliography (KNB) annually (last in 2018)
- Digitization of government and historical materials
- Providing access to e-resources, journals, and virtual libraries
- Supporting visually impaired users through Braille and audio formats
- Offering mobile library services, ICT access, health information, and literacy campaigns
- Acting as Kenya’s national bibliographic control center
KNLS also serves as a data center and knowledge hub for organizations such as the World Bank.
KNLS and Literacy Development
KNLS promotes literacy by supplying free access to reading materials and technology across Kenya. It supports reading campaigns and informal learning, helping communities fight poverty, illiteracy, and information inequality. The 2006 Adult Literacy Survey showed only 29.6% of adults had attained full functional literacy, making KNLS’s role more critical than ever.
Described as a “people’s university,” the National Library Service of Kenya continues to offer essential support beyond schools, ensuring life-long learning through access to print and digital resources. KNLS libraries help citizens participate actively in national development and governance by keeping them informed.
Transition to County Governments
With the 2010 Constitution, public libraries were officially devolved. As of July 1, 2023, 61 former KNLS branch libraries were handed over to county governments. KNLS now focuses on national functions such as publishing bibliographies, setting library policy and standards, and training library personnel across Kenya.
Key responsibilities retained by the KNLS Board include:
- Setting national library norms and standards
- Capacity building and technical support for counties
- Research and promotion of library services
- Publication of KNB and KPD
- Establishing a national web catalog (WebCat)
KNLS Facilities and Network
Current KNLS Centers:
- Maktaba Kuu, Upper Hill – Headquarters
- Buruburu Library, Nairobi
- Nakuru Library, Nakuru County
Former KNLS Libraries (Now County-Managed):
The 61 libraries were spread across 44 counties, with notable locations including:
- Kisumu: Kisumu, Koru (Dr. Robert Ouko Memorial Library)
- Mombasa: Mombasa
- Kakamega: Kakamega, Lusumu
- Nyeri: Nyeri, Karatina, Chinga, Munyu
- Wajir: Wajir, Griftu, Habasweni, Tarbaj, Bute
- Baringo: Kabarnet, Meisori, Eldama Ravine
- And many more across Embu, Kericho, Kiambu, Kisii, Nakuru, Laikipia, Vihiga, and Taita Taveta
The full list includes libraries in urban hubs and remote areas, demonstrating KNLS’s commitment to equitable information access.
Digital Transformation and Future Outlook
KNLS has embraced digitalization through its virtual library (vtabu.knls.ac.ke), allowing users to borrow eBooks, access academic journals, and explore government archives online. It also supports digitization services and online access for users with visual impairments.
Looking ahead, KNLS continues to evolve into a more inclusive, technology-driven, and policy-oriented institution, championing knowledge sharing and national development in the digital age.
