Public Toilet Building at Kenya National Archives Brought Down

Traders and shoe shiners in Nairobi’s CBD are counting losses after the demolition of public lavatories near the National Archives, sparking concern among residents and business owners. The demolished toilets, located between the Archives building and Mr Price, also housed small businesses, including shoe shiner stalls, some of which can no longer operate.

Videos and photos reviewed by Kenyans.co.ke show that the roof of the structure, which included water tanks, was removed, and walls on one side of the toilets were brought down. Nairobi County reportedly carried out the demolition on the night of Friday, March 20, as part of efforts to restructure the capital and improve drainage systems.

The demolition follows a campaign initiated by Governor Johnson Sakaja on Wednesday aimed at boosting drainage after the catastrophic flooding on March 6, which claimed several lives. Nairobi County has also been making other structural changes in the area, including paving around the Archives building with cabro and relocating PSV bus stations previously situated between the National Archives and the Ambassador building.

Traders and onlookers stare at the demolished toilets near Archives in Nairobi CBD, March 21, 2026. Photo Courtesy

The future of the demolished lavatory structure remains uncertain. Residents and traders are now forced to use alternative facilities, such as those at Agha Khan Walk or other nearby businesses, which are expected to see increased foot traffic. Another nearby building, just five meters away, was left untouched, fueling online speculation about possible personal feuds influencing the demolition.

Public toilets in Nairobi’s CBD, including those at the Archives, are significant revenue earners, generating up to Ksh30,000 per day in prime locations. Across the county, Nairobi has approximately 68 public toilets, with 18 in the CBD. These facilities were formerly managed by Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) but are now overseen by youth and women groups.

Residents and traders await clarity from Nairobi County on whether the demolished toilets will be rebuilt or redesigned, as the removal of these essential facilities continues to disrupt daily activities in the busy CBD area.