NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s ability to preserve and access historical records has received a major boost after the United Kingdom handed over specialised technology to the Kenya National Archives (KNA) to support the management of more than 307,000 digitised colonial-era files.
The equipment — including a high-capacity server, computers and archival software — is expected to open up public access to records documenting Kenya’s colonial history, enabling researchers, students, and citizens to engage more deeply with the country’s past.
Speaking at the handover ceremony in Nairobi, UK Deputy High Commissioner to Kenya Dr. Ed Barnett said the initiative was not only about technology, but about empowering Kenyans to shape their own narratives.
“By addressing our history with honesty and openness, we demonstrate the strength of our friendship today and our commitment to building ever closer ties in the future,” Dr. Barnett said.
The event was attended by Gender, Culture and Children Services Cabinet Secretary Hanna Wendot Cheptumo, State Department for Culture, Arts and Heritage Principal Secretary Ummi Bashir, and Kenya National Archives Director Francis Mwangi.
The move follows the UK’s formal transfer of more than 307,000 digitised files to President William Ruto in December 2024.
The documents, which span decades of Kenya’s colonial period, were originally preserved at the UK National Archives.
Officials said the new technology will help ensure the integrity, storage, and accessibility of the files, positioning the Kenya National Archives as a key resource for education, cultural heritage, and national identity.
