THE KENYA NATIONAL ARCHIVES: UNEXPLOITED GEM

The need to preserve information and records is as old as mankind: From the Death Sea Scroll to all form of writings, pictures and artifacts we hold dear.

Even though preservation of information and records is a human inclination, the law of the land can anchor a provision for the set up of such an institution. The latter gave birth to the Kenya National Archives and Documentation services (KNADS) by an act of parliament in 1965.

Before 1965 (during the colonial period) various government department were retained in their respective departmental offices.

As the presences and reign of the colonial government was annexing Kenya, in governance and administration the need to centralize the storage of records arose.

In 1956, Jogoo House basement (some space) was set aside to shelter the records. ( This is where the office of the first vice- president , Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was later to be accorded space, by).

The search room ( reading area ) was reserved at the present Ismail Rahmtulla Wasi Trust: The materials were transferred from Jogoo house, for reference.

Before the dawn of independence the archives services were disbanded. In the process some of the documents were destroyed, while others were shipped out of the country to the colonial government, home.

But due to the paramount importance of the springs of information and records, to keep on flowing from the past to then, and now; to realize a lubricated system in running the independent Kenyan government whose people are a breast with their history, solidified on a premise of a common vision - the archives department was among the first to be fortified to secure records from the past government.

From the realization of some serious dents in some of the important records, that were exported, KNADS put forth a decided effort to redeem some of the records and artifacts from individuals and the British Musiums and an attaché from the KNADS was attached at the Kenya high commission in London, says Mr. A zangu Eliakim, the manager of the search room.

Azangu terms the national archives as the a collective memory of the nation, thus KNADS, enthusiasm to bring back the records either in copies or as microfilms via the British National Archives (BNA).

IN 1978, KCB shifted to its present head quarter KENCOM, the present nerve center of KNADS , a building that KCB acquired from the National Gviandliac - it was put up by the bank of India , in 1930.

It was in the 1980s when KNADS transferred its services from Jogoo House to the four score magnificent home, staring between Standard House and Ambassadeur, staring towards KENCOM, Hilton Hotel , and Union Towers, clockwise.

Azangu articulates that records have got a lifetime of three phases: there is the current or active phase when the records are within the registry of a particular department or organization transacting business before moving to semi - current or semi - active phase , where the record or file is closed – carrying out no more correspondence; but important for reference.

After sometime the record’s value diminishes metamorphosing to non- current or non - active phase, hence ushered to the store.

It's at this time when the archives takes over records for other values; yes, more important values, than, why it was created in the first place: administrative purposes, legal issues, educational matters, financial and auditing ends and for cultural values.

The archaist goes though the huge and maze of these volumes of records from the various department filtering those of value, the rest get destroyed.

Azangu explains that quite number of files lack archival values.

The content in various records are offered security classification, according to the nurture of the content therein as: top secrets, secret, confidential and restricted.

“All these classifications are time bound, what is a secret today, given time will be public,” he says. Its at this time when the documents gets declassified. Examples are the Mau Mau and Sifter documents, which some years ago were well secured, but at the moment they are out for public scrutiny.

A 30 years rule, reigns, whereby document take 30 years upon their reception at the KNADS to be opened for public inspection. The rule differs from 15, 25 to a maximum of 50 years in some countries.

This time rule, is attached to the records due to the sensitivity of the state of security and private individual interests of the persons mentioned. From this need of reference and historical anecdote all government transaction are supposed to the carried out in written form, the archivist explain.

But the rapid charges in electronics communication posses a challenge. This notwithstanding, the archivist are buoyed that they are making a break through in securing materials from the larger public and the military.

Another challenge that is constraining the KNADS is storage space - ushering it to embrace digitalization of some of the materials, especially those from the coast (humid areas).

Digitalization is expensive locally, but KNADS has successfully digitalized 6 million pages, and a great number of photographs, too.

Richard Ambani who joined the department in 1964, says that few politicians have visited this collective memory of the nation. He says that the former president Daniel Arap Moi made his maiden tour to the services when he was the VP. The department was under his department, by his office.

Pro. Mamaduo Diof, the director of the Institute of African Studies (IAS) at Columbia University laments that politicians and leaders never consult the archives in decision making “thus they end up falling into the same pit of their predecessor with a big bang.”

“Archives were established to enable leaders make informed decisions based on history of a people,’’ he says, ‘”but our leaders keep on revisiting the same mistakes, as they don’t revisit the past to get a sense of what had already happened.”

Prof. Elazar Barkan of the International and Public Affairs (IPA) at Columbia University and co- director Center for the Study of Human Rights Program (CSHRP), acknowledges that archives have a prominent role in conflict resolution and reconciliation: “The services enables a given people to have an in depth and sincere conversation based on the long and hard past, they are supposed to overcome.”

Barkan foresees a situation where the archivist will play a central role in mending Kenya from it's tribal fault.

The KNADS services are glowing in leap and bound to meet regional needs. Kakamega, Kisumu, Nakuru, Mombasa and Nairobi facilities (catering the needs of Eastern, North Eastern and Central provinces) as the rest serve their respective provinces - have been put up.

The KNADS received a face lift when they were recipient of 3,000 books (in addition to its more than 24,000 rare books and publications) and artifacts from the Joseph Murumbi's information and art bank, which are accessible at Ksh 50 charge to the public.

The arms of KNADS are open to receive private records and artifacts from individuals, private organization and churches to complement public records.

In this era of technological revolution KNADS has not been left behind;it's catalog is on line,enabling the users to be acquainted with it's materials and services available.

Yes, through the KNADS all government publication and reports can be accessed in its National Documentation Information Retrieval Services (NDIRS).

Over the years 15,000 persons have registered as members: foreigners charged Ksh 1,500, adults Ksh 200, undergraduates (university students) Ksh 200,and Diploma and other students students Ksh 100 – for 12 months renewable yearly.

Prof. Kantai a veteran user of the KNADS in is historical researches says that KNADS is a goldmine that ignorance and neglect has buffered Kenyan from mining its rich dividends.