The University of Nairobi Herbarium (NAI) is a major academic herbarium housed within the University of Nairobi, serving as an important center for botanical research, teaching, and biodiversity documentation in Kenya and the wider East African region. Closely linked to the university’s Department of Biological Sciences, the herbarium supports undergraduate and postgraduate training in plant taxonomy, ecology, conservation biology, and environmental science.
The collection consists of tens of thousands of preserved plant specimens, with a strong emphasis on the flora of Kenya, including forest, savanna, montane, coastal, and dryland ecosystems. These specimens provide a permanent scientific record of plant diversity and are widely used for taxonomic studies, ecological research, environmental impact assessments, and conservation planning. The herbarium also plays a complementary role alongside national collections—particularly the East African Herbarium—by supporting academic research and student-led fieldwork.
In addition to its teaching and research functions, the University of Nairobi Herbarium contributes to national and regional biodiversity initiatives through collaboration with other herbaria, research institutions, and conservation organizations. Its collections help document species distributions, track environmental change, and train the next generation of botanists and conservation scientists in East Africa.
University of Nairobi Herbarium. Occurrence dataset (ID: recordID) accessed via the East Africa Herbaria Portal Portal, eastafricaherbaria.net, 2026-03-25).
