HomeMain StoryNational NewsNewsPolitics
Fresh hope for lovers of history as Sakaja commits to restore McMillan Memorial Library
The library holds more than 400,000 books including East African newspapers and periodicals dating back to 1901
Nairobi’s oldest library, The McMillan Memorial Library, may finally have a new lease of life after Governor Johnson Sakaja yesterday promised to restore its infrastructure after years of neglect by successive governments.
Sakaja, who visited the library, was confronted with prized historical books and newspapers left to decay on derelict shelves and abandoned furniture all over the place.
“Built in 1931 and bequeathed to the people of Nairobi by the McMillan family, the library is an indelible part of our city’s history. Over the years, it has fallen into great disrepair and neglect. We are committed to restoring the infrastructure of this library and protecting one of the greatest historical collections that our country has,” he said of the library along, which is second oldest in the country.
Records show that it was established as a private library in 1931 in memory of philanthropists Lord William Northrop Macmillan and wife Lucie. Lord MacMillan, who died in 1925, was the owner of the vast Juja Farm near Thika. The library became public in 1962.
The library holds more than 400,000 books including East African newspapers and periodicals dating back to 1901. Before being abandoned, it had been home to the proceedings of Parliament since its inception.
That the Victorian architectural structure has stood undisturbed by land grabbers all these years unlike many others is down to McMillan’s wisdom of ensuring it is protected by an Act of Parliament, making it the only building in the country to enjoy such security.
The McMillan Memorial Library Act Cap 217 of 1938 provided that the library was for the exclusive use of Europeans in addition to the usual conditions for preservation of monuments. The library was bequeathed to the Nairobi City Council and was opened to the general public in 1962. The law has since undergone various amendments, the latest being in 2012.
Many lovers of history and literature such as veteran journalist John Kamau have been at the forefront in campaigning for its restoration.
Previous efforts to restore the library and its branches in Kaloleni and Makadara spearheaded by Wanjiru Koinange and Angela Wachuka under Book Bunk Trust have, however, not accomplished the mission.
One can only hope Sakaja’s will succeed this time round.
