Kenyatta National Library temporarily closes its Nakuru branch

Students returning home for the half-term break and university learners seeking quiet study spaces will have to look elsewhere after the Kenya National Library Service (KNLS) announced the temporary closure of some of its Nakuru branch for annual stocktaking.

According to a notice issued by KNLS on their official Facebook page, the Maktaba Kuu library, as well as KNLS branches in Buruburu and Nakuru, will remain closed from June 22-27, 2026, to facilitate the annual stocktaking exercise with normal services are expected to resume on June 29.

The closure comes at a time when many secondary school students have begun leaving school for the half-term break, a period during which public library often experiences increased traffic from learners looking for conducive environments to revise, access books and use internet services.

The temporary suspension of services is therefore likely to disrupt study plans for learners who rely on the facility for revision, preparation for upcoming examinations and assignments.

University students are also expected to feel the impact. With several institutions currently running academic programmes, projects and research activities, many learners who frequent to the KNLS library for access to reference materials, reliable internet connectivity and quiet workspaces away from crowded campuses and hostels.

The public library has increasingly become a shared workspace for freelancers, remote workers, researchers and entrepreneurs who use the facilities for internet access, meetings and professional work, who during the temporary closure will be affected.

KNLS, however, notes that its Virtual Library, popularly known as Vitabu, will remain operational throughout the stocktaking period, allowing users to continue accessing digital resources online. 

The institution has also clarified that its headquarters offices will remain open and operational during the exercise.

For users who depend on the facility, the week-long interruption will require alternative study and working arrangements until services resume at the end of the month.