Institutional repositories are increasingly being fronted as a major way in which universities can disseminate research output globally. Despite the immense potential benefits they present to scholars, their use is significantly low. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of institutional repository in promoting access and use of local content by academic staff at Kenyatta University. Using a mixed method research paradigm, a sample size of 91 academic staff, was drawn through stratified random sampling method. Also the university librarian (1) and 3 institutional repository staff was used as key informants. Data was collected using interviews and questionnaires. Major findings indicate that academic staff contribute a range of content, albeit limited in number, into the institutional repository, the level of usage of the institutional repository is unsatisfactory and therefore need for improvement; to promote the access and usage of the institutional repository, Kenyatta University has put up a number of ICT infrastructures. Academic staff faces a number of access related challenges which include but not limited to, low internet bandwidth, institutional repository downtimes, and access barriers such as passwords; the profound barriers to effective usage of the institutional repository were: plagiarism, quality control, research impact, and long item submission procedure. The study concludes that access and use of local content at the Kenyatta University institutional repository is unsatisfactory.