Why Visit? The Kitale Museum is Kenya’s first domestic museum. Opened to the public in 1924, the museum stands as a testament to both natural and cultural heritage preservation. Set on a 5-acre parcel of land just 1 kilometre west of Kitale town centre, the museum blends cultural exhibitions with live animal displays and ecological trails. Located in Trans-Nzoia County in western Kenya, approximately 380 kilometres northwest of Nai
Bukusu Homestead: Includes a main house, kitchen, and boys’ sleeping house (Simba). Sabaot Homestead: Features circular huts divided into Koima (main living area) and Injoor (livestock shelter).
Exhibits from the Luhya, Maasai, and Turkana communities including utensils, tools, weapons, and musical instruments.
Home to Nile crocodiles, leopard tortoises, and a variety of poisonous snakes such as the puff adder, rock python, Gaboon viper, and rhinoceros viper.
A serene trail created in 1977, resembling a mini rainforest with rare plant and animal species.
Originally known as the Stoneham Museum, the institution was founded through the efforts of Colonel Hugh Stoneham, a passionate naturalist and collector. Colonel Stoneham amassed a vast array of ethnographic and biological specimens and upon his death in 1966, he bequeathed his entire collection and estate to the Kenyan government.
In 1974, the museum was established under the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) and renamed Kitale Museum. It became the first regional museum to join the Kenya Museum Society and continues to be a vital resource for education and research in the North Rift region.
Opening Hours: Daily, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM, including public holidays
Location: 1 km west of Kitale Town Centre, along Kitale–Kapenguria road
Accessibility: Easily reachable by private and public transport from Eldoret or Bungoma
Guided Tours: Available for schools and organized groups
School Curriculum Integration: Educational programs for history, environment, and biology
Cultural Performance Days: Showcasing traditional songs, dance, and storytelling
Visitor Centre: Ticketing and information desk
Toilets & Rest Areas: Well-maintained facilities for all guests
Parking: Secure on-site parking
Picnic Zones: Designated areas for relaxation and refreshments
The museum promotes research in natural history, ethnography, and conservation, with a focus on indigenous knowledge systems and ecological sustainability in Western Kenya.
Wear Comfortable Footwear: Recommended for nature trail exploration
Photography: Permitted across most of the grounds
Phone: +254 20 3741424 / +254 721 308 485
Step into Kenya’s past and explore the rich diversity of cultures, nature, and history at Kitale Museum—where tradition meets conservation.
The National Museums of Kenya (NMK), established under the Museums and Heritage Act (2006), is a multi-disciplinary institution dedicated to collecting, preserving, researching, and presenting Kenya’s cultural and natural heritage.
The National Museums of Kenya (NMK), established under the Museums and Heritage Act (2006), is a multi-disciplinary institution dedicated to collecting, preserving, researching, and presenting Kenya’s cultural and natural heritage.
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