KICC

The Kenyatta International Convention Centre on Harambee Avenue is a working conference venue that most visitors go to for one reason: the rooftop viewing deck, which gives the only unobstructed 360-degree view over central Nairobi. It is cheap, it takes half an hour, and it is the best orientation exercise in the city.

The Building

KICC was designed in 1967 by the Norwegian architect Karl Henrik Nostvik and opened on 11 September 1973 by Jomo Kenyatta. In the same month it hosted its first international conference, the annual meetings of the Board of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, which was the point of building it: Kenya wanted a facility capable of holding meetings of that size.

The tower with its ribbed cylindrical shaft and the low amphitheatre beside it have been the standard shorthand image of Nairobi ever since, and the building is one of the few pieces of post-independence architecture anywhere in East Africa to have become a national symbol rather than merely a landmark.

The Viewing Deck

The deck at the top of the tower was built as a helipad and is still used as one, which is why it is a flat open circle rather than an enclosed observation floor. Visitors go up by lift and then walk out onto it.

The view covers the whole of the city centre: Parliament and City Hall immediately below, the grid of the central business district, Uhuru Park, the ridge of suburbs to the west, and on a clear day the plains of Nairobi National Park to the south. Late afternoon is the better light and the better visibility; the middle of the day can be hazy.

This is a working conference centre first and a viewpoint second. Access to the deck goes through the main building and can be restricted when a large conference or a state function is running, and the helipad itself is hired out for events, landings and photo shoots. Confirm on the day rather than making a special trip.

Charges and Access

KICC publishes its own rates. The view tower figures below were taken from that published pricing guideline and checked in September 2026.

Category	Entry fee
Adult, East African citizen or resident	KSh 200
School groups, East African, primary or secondary	KSh 50
Adult, non-resident	US$5
Non-resident child under 12, or student with proof	US$3

Those are the charges for going up the tower. The helipad hire rates published alongside them, for events, helicopter landings, filming and photo shoots, are a separate commercial arrangement and do not apply to an ordinary visit. KICC’s own site gives opening hours of 6am to 6pm daily for the centre; check the deck’s own access times at reception.

Nearby

KICC is in the middle of the city and everything around it is walkable. The Kenya National Archives on Moi Avenue is a few minutes away, and the Nairobi Railway Museum is a short walk off Haile Selassie Avenue. Going up the tower first and then walking the streets below is the sensible order. The city is covered on the Nairobi guide.

Questions Visitors Ask

Can I go up without booking?

Ordinarily yes, by paying at reception. Access can be closed when a major conference or state function is running, so it is worth checking on the day.

Is the rooftop enclosed?

No. It is an open helipad with a safety rail rather than a glazed observation deck, which is why the view is unobstructed.

When is the best time to go up?

Late afternoon, for light and for visibility. Midday haze flattens the view over the city.

How long does it take?

Half an hour is enough, including the lift and the walk through the building.

11 Places to Visit in This Area

Other sites in Nairobi, each with its own guide.

African Heritage House Bomas of Kenya Giraffe Centre Karen Blixen Museum Karura Forest Kenya National Archives Nairobi Arboretum Nairobi National Museum Nairobi Railway Museum Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Nursery Uhuru Gardens

Safaris That Visit Nairobi

3 of the 16 safaris listed here that visit Nairobi, from different operators where the listings allow it. Each is sold and run by an independent tour company. This site lists them and passes on enquiries; it takes no booking and charges you nothing.

Great Migration