5 Places You're Allowed to Enter for Free in Kenya, But You've Probably Never Tried

There are places in Kenya that most of us have walked past hundreds of times without ever considering going inside.

Not because we are not allowed.

Not because they are private.

Sometimes, it is simply because we have convinced ourselves that those places are not meant for people like us.

You know the feeling.

“Huko si kwetu.”

It is one of those phrases that says a lot about how we move around Nairobi and Kenya. We see certain buildings, institutions and spaces as belonging to other people. Politicians. Lawyers. Academics. Business people. Students. People with connections.

But some of these places are public spaces, and you can actually walk through the doors.

Here are five worth knowing about.

1. You can sit inside a courtroom and watch a real case

You do not have to be a lawyer to walk into a Kenyan courtroom.

Court proceedings are generally open to members of the public, although there are exceptions for matters that the court determines should be heard privately. That means an ordinary person can attend a public hearing, go through security and sit quietly in the courtroom.

You do not need to know the advocate appearing before the judge or any connection whatsoever.

You simply need to behave appropriately and follow the instructions of the court.

It is a surprisingly interesting experience.

You get to see how arguments are made, how lawyers present their cases and how judges interact with the people appearing before them. It is very different from watching a courtroom scene on television.

If you have ever wondered what actually happens inside a Kenyan court, you can find out for yourself.

2. You can watch Parliament in person

Most Kenyans experience Parliament through television clips, newspaper headlines and social media.

But you can also experience parliamentary proceedings in person.

The Parliament of Kenya has a public gallery where members of the public can observe proceedings, subject to the applicable rules and security requirements.

Think about what that means.

You could sit inside the same institution where MPs debate legislation, government policy and matters affecting the country.

You are not there as a politician or a journalist. You are there simply as a member of the public.

Parliament is supposed to be connected to the people it represents. Yet many Kenyans have never considered going there simply to observe what happens.

The next time you see a heated parliamentary debate on television, remember that there is a physical room where those conversations are taking place.

You can potentially be sitting there watching it happen.

3. You can sit in your County Assembly

If Parliament feels too far removed from everyday life, start closer to home.

Your County Assembly is where your elected Members of the County Assembly debate issues that directly affect your area, such as: Budgets, County legislation, Development plans, Local services and Public spending.

Members of the public can attend county assembly proceedings, subject to the assembly's procedures and security requirements.

This is particularly interesting because county government affects your everyday life in ways that national politics sometimes does not. Think of the roads around you, Markets, Waste management, Local development, County health services etc.

These decisions are being discussed somewhere and you can actually go there and watch the process.

You might even leave with a completely different understanding of what your elected representatives actually do.

4. You may be able to use a university library without being a student

This one is particularly useful for Nairobians looking for third spaces.

There are university libraries and academic facilities that provide some level of access to members of the public, although the exact rules differ between institutions.

Some may allow visitors to use designated reading areas after registering or signing in.

That means you could potentially walk into a university campus with your identification, find a quiet place to read or work and spend a few hours away from the noise of the city.

For someone working remotely, studying independently or simply looking for somewhere quiet to think, that can be incredibly useful.

However, do not assume every university library has the same policy. We advise you check with the institution first and follow its visitor requirements.

The bigger point is that universities are not always as closed off to the public as people may assume.

5. You can attend some university public lectures

Universities are places where students go to earn degrees. But they can also be places where some of the country's most interesting conversations happen.

Universities regularly host public lectures, conferences, talks and academic events covering subjects ranging from economics and technology to politics, culture, business and international affairs.

Some of these events are free and specifically open to members of the public.

You might find yourself listening to a professor, researcher, policymaker, entrepreneur or visiting speaker without paying anything or being enrolled at the university.

The trick is knowing where to look.

Follow university websites and social media pages. Look for phrases such as “public lecture,” “open to the public,” “free registration” or “public event.”

And always check the specific event requirements before showing up.

Finally,

The next time you walk past a government building, university or public institution in Nairobi, do not automatically assume that the answer is no.

Find out what the rules are, check whether the public is allowed and follow the procedure at all times.

Then walk through the door..

Sometimes the only thing keeping you outside is the belief that “huko si kwetu.”