In Kenya, all public libraries are normally under the control of the Kenya National Library Services (KNLS), an arm of government mandated by the law under Cap 225 of the Law of Kenya. In this article, we take a look at the list of public national libraries in Kenya and where they are located
The body was founded in April 1965 and it has been operational to date. At the moment one of the renowned National Library is located at Community-Upper Hill, Nairobi opposite NHF offices. Apart from this one, there are over 50 Public National Libraries located in different counties around the country.
List of Public National Libraries in Kenya
Here we will highlight all the public national libraries based on their counties and specific locations.
Baringo County
Baringo has been allocated with three National Libraries located in different towns,
1. Kabarnet KNLS Library
Located, Along Nakuru-Iten Road.
Contact: 020 215 8364.
Email: knlskabarnet@knls.ac.ke.
2. Meisori KNLS Library
Located, Marigat- Lake Baringo Road, a few Kilometres from Marigat town.
Email: knlsmeisori@knls.ac.ke.
3. Eldama Ravine KNLS Library
Location: Eldama Ravine
Email: knlseldamaravine@knls.ac.ke.
Bomet County
Bomet County only has one public national,
4. Silibwet KNLS Library
Located Along Leiten- Bomet Road, Silibwet.
Contact: 020 215 8375.
Email: knlssilibwet@knls.ac.ke.
Bungoma County
Kimilili KNLS Library
Located along Kitale-Bungoma Road, opposite Kimilili District Hospital.
Contact: 020 215 8370.
Email: knlskimilili@knls.ac.ke.
Elgeyo Marakwet County
6. Lagam KNLS Library
Located just Next to Lagam Catholic Church.
Contact: 020 215 8365.
Email: knlslagam@knls.ac.ke.
Embu County
Embu KNLS Library
Located off Kenyatta Road, Embu Town.
Contact: 020 215 8384.
Email: knlsembu@knls.ac.ke.
Garissa County
Garissa KNLS Library
Located, off Garissa-Dadaab Road, just opposite Administration Police.
Contact: 020 215 8387.
Email: knlsgarissa@knls.ac.ke.
Mbalambala KNLS Library
Located opposite to Mbalambala District Hospital.
Email: knlsmbalambala@knls.ac.ke.
Masalani KNLS Library
Situated, along Busia-Hola Road, Next to Masalani Primary School.
Contact: 020 215 8388.
Email: knlsmasalani@knls.ac.ke.
Isiolo County
Isiolo KNLS Library
Location: Next to Isiolo IEBC Offices.
Contact: 020 215 8374.
Email: knlsisiolo@knls.ac.ke.
Kericho County
Kericho KNLS Library
Located along Kisumu Road, Opposite South Western College.
Contact: 020 215 8367.
Email: knlskericho@knls.ac.ke.
Kiambu County
Thika KNLS Library
Location: General Kago Road, Opposite Mount Kenya University, Thika Town.
Contact: 020 215 8376.
Email: knlsthika@knls.ac.ke.
Kilifi County
Kilifi KNLS Library
Located along Bosa Road, Near Chief’s Office.
Contact: 020 215 8398.
Email: knlskilifi@knls.ac.ke.
Malindi KNLS Library
Located off Malindi-Lamu Road.
Contact: 020 215 8395.
Email: knlsmalindi@knls.ac.ke.
Dzitsoni KNLS Library
Located, just next to Dzitsoni Secondary School.
Contact: 020 215 8399.
Email: knlsdzitsoni@knls.ac.ke.
Kisii County
Kisii KNLS Library
Located just behind Barclays Bank.
Contact: 020 215 8373.
Email: knlskisii@knls.ac.ke.
Kakamega County
Kakamega KNLS Library
Located, off Muruli Road, Behind Mwalimu Centre.
Contact: 020 215 8369.
Email: knlskakamega@knls.ac.ke.
Lusumu KNLS Library
Located, on Shianda Nambacha Road, Near St Kizito Secondary School.
Email: knlslusumu@knls.ac.ke.
Kisumu County
Kisumu KNLS Library
Located at Ochieng Road, Next to Kisumu Social Centre.
Contact: 020 215 8368.
Email: knlskisumu@knls.ac.ke.
Koru KNLS Library
Located in Koru Town.
Email: knlskoru@knls.ac.ke.
Kitui County
Mwingi KNLS Library
Located at Mwingi- Kyuso Road, opposite Mwingi High School.
Contact: 020 215 8386.
Email: knlsmwingi@knls.ac.ke.
Kwale County
Kwale KNLS Library
Located, along Ukunda- Lunga Lunga Road.
Contact: 020 213 4195.
Email: knlskwale@knls.ac.ke.
Laikipia County
Rumuruti KNLS Library
Located, off Nyahururu- Maralal Road, Opposite Pagan Girls Secondary.
Contact: 020 215 8382.
Email: knlsrumuruti@knls.ac.ke.
Laikipia KNLS Library
Located, Opposite Kirimara Hotel.
Contact: 020 215 8381.
Email: knlslaikipia@knls.ac.ke.
Makueni County
Kithasyu KNLS Library
Located just next to Kithasyu Primary School and Chulu National Park.
Contact: 020 215 8396.
Email: knlskithasyu@knls.ac.ke.
Mutyambua KNLS Library
Located at Sultan Hamud just next to Chief’s camp
Contact: 020 215 8393.
Email: knlsmutyambua@knls.ac.ke.
Kinyambu KNLS Library
Located in Kibwezi Town.
Contact: 020 215 8394.
Email: knlskinyambu@knls.ac.ke.
Mandera County
Mandera KNLS Library
Located, off Isiolo-Mandera Road just next to Magistrate’s Court.
Contact: 020 215 8392.
Email: knlsmandera@knls.ac.ke.
Marsabit County
Moyale KNLS Library
Located, inside the Ministry of Health Offices Compound.
Email: knlsmoyale@knls.ac.ke.
Meru County
Meru KNLS Library
Located on Kenyatta Road, Meru Town.
Contact: 020 215 8385.
Email: knlsmeru@knls.ac.ke.
Mikombine KNLS Library
Located in Nkubu.
Contact: 020 215 8383.
Email: knlsmikombine@knls.ac.ke.
Timau KNLS Library
Located just off Nanyuki-Meru Road, Opposite Timau Catholic.
Contact: knlstimau@knls.ac.ke.
Gatimbi KNLS Library
Located at Equator Junction
Email: knlsgatimbi@knls.ac.ke.
Migori County
Awendo KNLS Library
Located, just next to Sony Complex Primary School.
Email: knlsawendo@knls.ac.ke.
Mombasa County
Mombasa KNLS Library
Located, Haille Selassie Avenue, Msanifu Kombo Street.
Contact: 020 215 8397.
Email: knlsmombasa@knls.ac.ke.
Muranga County
Muranga KNLS Library
Located, along Kenyatta Avenue.
Contact: 020 236 9592.
Email: knlsmuranga@knls.ac.ke.
John Michuki Memorial Library
Located just next to Kangema sub-county Headquarters.
Contact: 0797 398 054.
Email: knlskangema@knls.ac.ke.
Nairobi County
Nairobi KNLS Library
Located at Maktaba Kuu Building, Ngong Road, Community Area.
Contact: 0722 860 567.
Email: knlsnal@knls.ac.ke.
Buruburu KNLS Library
Located at Ol Donyo Sabuk Road Junction.
Contact: 020 212 9744.
Email: knlsburuburu@knls.ac.ke.
Kibera KNLS Library
Situated at Albert Road just next to Soweto Primary School.
Contact: 0770 706 227.
Email: knlskibera@knls.ac.ke.
Nakuru County
Nakuru KNLS Library
Located just behind Christ the King Cathedral.
Contact: 020 215 8362.
Email: knlsnakuru@knls.ac.ke.
Naivasha KNLS Library
Located at Barrier Karui Road.
Contact: 020 215 8361.
Email: knlsnaivasha@knls.ac.ke.
Gilgil KNLS Library
Located, opposite Gilgil Market, Bondeni Estate.
Email: knlsgilgil@knls.ac.ke.
Nandi County
Kapsabet KNLS Library
Located just opposite Kapsabet Hospital.
Contact: 020 215 8366.
Email: knlskapsabet@knls.ac.ke.
Narok County
Lelechonik KNLS Library
Located at Leiben-Bomet Road.
Email: knlslelechonik@knls.ac.ke.
Narok KNLS Library
Located along Narok-Sotik Road, just opposite St Mary’s School.
Email: knlsnarok@knls.ac.ke.
Nyandarua County
Ol Kalou KNLS Library
Located just opposite Ol Kalou Town Council Offices.
Contact: 020 213 4197.
Email: knlsolkalou@knls.ac.ke.
Nyeri County
Nyeri KNLS Library
Located, on Kenyatta Avenue, Just opposite Barclays Bank.
Contact: 020 215 8377.
Email: knlsnyeri@knls.ac.ke.
Munyu KNLS Library
Locaed, off Nanyuki Road, 12km from Naromoru Town.
Contact: 020 215 8378.
Email: knlsmunyu@knls.ac.ke.
Chinga KNLS Library
Located just next to Chinga Boys High School.
Contact: 020 218 8300.
Email: knlschinga@knls.ac.ke.
Karatina KNLS Library
Located just next to Karatina Law Courts.
Contact: 020 215 8379.
Email: knlskaratina@knls.ac.ke.
Siaya County
Ukwala KNLS Library
Located at Ukwala, Port Victoria-Ugunja Road.
Contact: 020 215 8372.
Email: knlsukwala@knls.ac.ke.
Nyilima KNLS Library
Located, Along Ndori-Uyoma Road.
Contact: 020 215 8371.
Email: knlsnyilima@knls.ac.ke.
Rambula KNLS Library
Located at Ugunja Town.
Contact: 020 203 1867.
Email: knlsrambula@knls.ac.ke.
Taita Taveta County
Wundanyi KNLS Library
Located at Wundanyi, just next to the Ministry of Lands Office.
Contact: 020 213 4196.
Mary Patch Turnbull Memorial KNLS Library
Located just next to Shimbo Secondary School, Wundanyi.
Email: knlswerugha@knls.ac.ke.
Voi Community KNLS Library
Located just opposite Voi Law Courts.
Email: knlsvoi@knls.ac.ke.
Uasin Gishu County
Eldoret KNLS Library
Located off Iten- Uganda Road Junction.
Contact: 020 215 8363.
Email: knlseldoret@knls.ac.ke.
Wajir County
Wajir KNLS Library
Located at Wajir Town.
Contact: 020 215 8340.
Email: knlswajir@knls.ac.ke.
Habaswein KNLS Library
Located at Habaswein, Opposite CDF Offices.
Contact: 020 215 8389.
Email: knlshabaswein@knls.ac.ke.
Bute KNLS Library
Located, just next to Bute Girls High School.
Email: knlsbute@knls.ac.ke.
Trabajo KNLS Library
Located, next to Tarbaj District Hospital.
Email: knlstarbaj@knls.ac.ke.
Griftu KNLS Library
Located a few Kilometre off Wajir- Moyale Road.
Email: knlsgriftu@knls.ac.ke.