Discover 3.5 million artefacts, archives, and living stories spanning 6 million years of East African history — from the world's oldest human fossils to the grandeur of the Swahili coast.
Every theme connects to real objects in NMK's collections, stories from our researchers, and educational resources for your journey.
Authoritative storytelling from NMK's curators, researchers, and communities.
In 1984, palaeontologist Kamoya Kimeu found a small dark fragment of bone near Nariokotome, beside Kenya's Lake Turkana. What followed would rewrite the story of our species — and permanently establish Kenya as the birthplace of humanity.
Abandoned suddenly in the 17th century, the walled Swahili city of Gedi preserves in its stone the wealth of an Indian Ocean trading civilisation that rivalled any in the medieval world.
NMK's entomology halls contain the most comprehensive record of East African insect life ever assembled — and new species are still being found within the collections today.
Exhibitions, talks, family events, and special experiences across our network of museums.
The most complete early human skeleton ever discovered, Turkana Boy was found by palaeontologist Kamoya Kimeu in 1984 near Nariokotome, West Turkana. His skeleton reveals that Homo ergaster — our direct ancestor — walked fully upright, had a body proportioned remarkably like a modern human, and was capable of long-distance travel across the African landscape.
From the coast to the highlands — NMK's network spans the country.
NMK manages over 240 heritage sites. These are three of the most significant.
600+ CBC-aligned lesson plans, virtual school tours, and teacher tools — connecting every student to the real heritage of their country.
Every contribution — large or small — funds the digitisation, conservation, and public access of Kenya's irreplaceable national collections.
Fund the photography and cataloguing of 2,400 archaeological objects from the Gedi ruins — making one of East Africa's most significant site collections globally discoverable.
Sponsor a complete school visit for a class of 40 students from a rural school — including transport, admission, and learning materials.
Contribute to the urgent conservation of Fort Jesus's northern bastion — the section most exposed to Indian Ocean sea erosion.