The Public Archives and Documentation Service Act provides for the establishment of the Public Archives Advisory Council with the aim of advising the cabinet secretary on all matters relating to the location, preservation and use of public archives, access by members of the public to the public archive, and export under license of any public archives, public records or historical records.
Each appointed member of the council normally holds office for a term of two years. The chairman of the council is normally appointed by the President with the advice of the cabinet secretary and the council secretary is the Director of the Kenya National Archives and Documentation Services.