NAIROBI, Kenya — The National Museums of Kenya (NMK) has launched a fully digital ticketing system for major heritage sites, giving visitors a 30-day window to redeem any paper tickets bought before the rollout.
The shift marks a nationwide transition to cashless, online payments through the government’s eCitizen platform as part of broader efforts to modernise service delivery and tighten revenue oversight.
In a notice issued Tuesday, NMK confirmed that the new system is already active at six flagship sites — Nairobi National Museum, Karen Blixen Museum, Nairobi Gallery, Fort Jesus National Monument, Malindi Museum and Gedi National Monument. The agency said manual payment options have been discontinued at these locations.
“The new system takes effect immediately, and any previously purchased tickets must be used within 30 days from the date of this notice,” NMK said, directing visitors to nmkpay.ecitizen.go.ke for online bookings.
Under the new guidelines, all visitors must purchase their tickets digitally and present them alongside a National ID at the entrance. The system requires users to select the ticket category, specify whether the visit is individual or institutional, enter citizenship and residential details, and choose a visit date.
Payments must be processed under the Nairobi National Museum Bill slot before the digital ticket is generated. NMK emphasised that tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable.
A second batch of museums and historical sites will be gradually integrated into the platform. These include Lamu Museum, Hyrax Hill, Kisumu Museum, Kitale Museum, Meru Museum, Narok Museum, Kabarnet Museum, Kapenguria Museum, Kariandusi Museum, Olorgesailie, Rabai Museum, Thimlich Ohinga, Jumba la Mtwana, Siyu Fort, Takwa Ruins, Koobi Fora, Nyeri Museum, and Wajir Museum.
According to NMK, the shift to a cashless system is intended to streamline visitor management, reduce queues, curb revenue leakages, and improve data-driven planning across the country’s cultural and historical sites. The reform aligns with the government’s wider digitalisation agenda, which includes the migration of public payments to eCitizen and increased automation of state services.
Heritage experts say the digital transition could also boost domestic and international tourism by offering more transparent pricing, easier access to information and improved customer experience.
NMK is expected to announce the onboarding of additional sites in phases over the coming months.
