Nyayo House, Government tower block in Central Business District, Kenya.
Nyayo House is a government tower block in Nairobi's Central Business District, located at the intersection of Uhuru Highway and Kenyatta Avenue. The building houses multiple state departments that serve residents and visitors seeking official documentation and administrative services.
Planning for Nyayo House began in 1973 under the name Nairobi House. Construction started in 1979, a year after Daniel arap Moi became president, and was completed in 1983. The building was designed by the Ministry of Public Works and Ngotho Architects and built by Laxmanbhai Construction.
The name comes from President Daniel arap Moi's "Nyayo" slogan, meaning "footsteps". In 2010, 21 former detainees were awarded KSh 40 million in damages for torture suffered in the basement cells. Musician Ochieng Kabaselleh died soon after release, allegedly from torture injuries.
Access is available through main entrances on Uhuru Highway and Kenyatta Avenue, where visitors should expect standard security checks. Offices operate during regular business hours, and visitors should bring required documents and plan accordingly for processing times.
The basement chambers, known as the "Nyayo House torture chambers", held opponents of Daniel arap Moi's government, including George Anyona, Wahome Mutahi and Raila Odinga. In June 2024 survivors filed a court case asking that the chambers be turned into a museum open to the public; they are not currently open to visitors.
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