About Kaloleni Library

The Kaloleni Library is the smallest branch of the three and caters to a much younger audiences, mostly children.

Kaloleni Library is the smallest branch of the three and caters to younger audiences, mostly children. The restoration of this library was completed in June 2020, and public programming is focused on children. The library was opened in 1969, and is adjacent to Kaloleni Social Hall, which holds a significant place in Kenya’s independence history. In the 1960s, leading figures including Tom Mboya, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Jomo Kenyatta and Milton Obote addressed large meetings attended by up to 6,000 people. The building also served as Kenya’s unofficial parliament in the early 1950s and was where Kenya’s first parliamentary election results were announced in 1963.

The Kaloleni neighbourhood consists of approximately 500 housing structures built by Italian prisoners of war in the 1940s. The design of Kaloleni was influenced by the Garden City concept of Sir Ebenezer Howard’s Garden City Movement, which attempted to provide citizens with an alternative to crowded and unhealthy cities. As such, Kaloleni is built in a concentric pattern with open spaces between the homes and six radial boulevards extending from the centre. These homes were occupied by soldiers from the King’s African Rifles upon their return to Kenya after WW1. They were built for single occupation with the rooms measuring ten by ten feet. As the soldiers’ families expanded, they added extensions to the original houses. 

Open on;

Mondays – Fridays : 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturdays: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

What we offer: Kaloleni Library Services

Books and Reading Spaces

Lor sit amet, ctetur adipisicing elit, sed deiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et

Library Tours

Dolor sit amet, tetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiu smod temporin cididunt ut labore

Membership

Dolor sit amet, tetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiu smod temporin cididunt ut labore

Computer Services

Psum dolor sit amet, ctetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et

Public Events

Psum dolor sit amet, ctetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et

After-School Programming

Dolor sit amet, tetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiu smod temporin cididunt ut labore

Digitisation

Isum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut

Upcoming Events

Week days
Hepa Jam!
This is our school/work programme that offers extended library opening hours to everyone wanting to escape Nairobi’s traffic jam at any of the three libraries. During these hours, we also offer our school-going library users with tuition and other support they may need with their academic work.
4PM - 8PM
Free ENTRANCE
Week days
Play Bunk
This is a programme held at the library that uses interactive play and music to engage library users outside of school work. Currently, we have partnered with The Lego Foundation to provide fun, interactive lego play at the library.
Tuesdays & Thursdays 2PM - 5PM
Free ENTRANCE
Week days
Art Bunk
This is an art education programme for age 4yrs - 10yrs delivered by Book Bunk and its partners to the McMillan Memorial Libraries.
Coming Soon
Free ENTRANCE
Saturdays
Dance Bunk
A free dance programme offered in partnership with Chezacheza Foundation, whom we have commissioned to teach their curriculum, integrating dance practice as a holistic learning process and bringing it closer to the expressions of culture found in books, dress, food and language.
10:00 - 11:30 AM
Free ENTRANCE
Saturdays
Hepa Jam!
This is our school/work programme that offers extended library opening hours to everyone wanting to escape Nairobi’s traffic jam at any of the three libraries. During these hours we also hope to offer our school going library users with tuition and other support they may need with their academic work.
1 PM - 4 PM
Free ENTRANCE
Saturdays
Music Bunk
A holiday music programme for kids and teens hosted at the libraries in Eastlands and Kaloleni branches. The holiday music programme also has an extended fellowship programme, where selected students who graduate from the holiday music programme participate in a 16-week music fellowship leading up to a showcase at the library.
12 PM - 2 PM
Free ENTRANCE
Saturdays
Play Bunk
This is a programme held at the library that uses interactive play and music to engage library users outside of school work. Currently, we have partnered with The Lego Foundation to provide fun, interactive lego play at the library.
12 PM - 2 PM
Free ENTRANCE
Saturdays
Film Screenings
Child-friendly film screenings! Where possible, the cast or directors of these films are invited to provide further insight and hold discussions with viewers. Past screenings include Supa Modo, a Kenyan critically-acclaimed film directed by Likarion Wainaina.
From Midday
Free ENTRANCE

See who’s running Kaloleni Library

  • Henry Quivers Nyanya
    Janitor
    My name is Quivers aka ‘Quavo’; a father of one daughter, Quinisha. I work as a janitor for Book Bunk. My job enables me to interact with a lot of people which I really enjoy. Moreover, in the course of performing my duties I stumble upon various challenges and the process to overcome them and learn from them is one that I find quite fulfilling. Outside of work, I enjoy playing football and if it’s not obvious yet, making new friends. Travelling is another thing that I find quite relaxing.
  • Kevin Idalia Obondo
    Security Officer
    I am Kevin Idalia Obondo aka ‘Sneijder’, a father of one. I am grateful for working with Book Bunk, an organisation I joined while working for Lynk in the Kaloleni Library renovation in 2020. From my job with Lynk, I got an opportunity to work with Book Bunk as a security officer. I have learned a lot of things through Book Bunk and I am proud to be part of the impact it makes in the community. I am certainly looking forward to growing into new levels with the organisation.
  • Veronica Wambaire Nderitu
    Security Officer
    I am Veronica born and raised in Makadara (Marish) . I have always used the library since I was a child. Back then it was dusty and had no electricity. I met Book Bunk through my brother who worked on the renovation of the library. Thereafter, I was called for an interview where I secured a job as a security officer and I am so excited to be part of the facility team. In the coming years I would still like to be part of Book Bunk. I am very passionate about drawing. It’s a skill I’d like to develop further.

Support Kaloleni Library

You can support Kaloleni Library by donating a book to the library! Read our book donation policy here.

We asked library users what books they’ll need, here’s the library’s wish list!  If you’d like to know how we manage the library’s collections, please read our collection management policies here.

Book a tour: Immerse yourself in the world of #NRBLibraries and book a tour. Proceeds go towards supporting the library.

Donate in-kind – reach out to hello@bookbunk.org

Donate here

In the News

Contact Us

The Kaloleni Library is the smallest branch of the three and caters to a much younger audiences, mostly children.