Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi tours the UN complex in Gigiri in preparation for the AMCEN-20, which takes place this month /HANDOUTThe United Nations complex in Gigiri, Nairobi, is undergoing extensive infrastructure improvements as the city prepares to accommodate additional UN agencies by 2026.
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi inspected the ongoing works across the 140-acre Gigiri complex, which include renovations and the construction of new office buildings.
Mudavadi emphasised that the developments not only bolster Kenya’s status as a trusted multilateral hub but also enhance Nairobi’s capacity to efficiently and dignifiedly host critical United Nations general assembly sessions and offices.
“It is inspiring to see how this expansion brings to life the aspirations outlined in Sessional Paper No 1 of 2025 on Kenya’s Foreign Policy, which affirms our steadfast commitment to advancing multilateral diplomacy and fostering meaningful global engagement from Nairobi,” Mudavadi said.
He added that the UN’s presence in Nairobi not only creates employment opportunities but also facilitates important global conversations in Kenya, strengthening its position as the environmental capital of Africa.
As part of a broader UN reform initiative aimed at decentralising operations to more affordable and strategically located cities, the UN plans to open three new global offices in Nairobi by the end of 2026.
These will house the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).
In addition, the UN is investing $340 million to construct a new 9,000-seat assembly hall along with 30 new conference rooms.
This expansion will solidify Nairobi's standing as a major UN hub, complementing the existing headquarters of the UN Environment Programme and UN-Habitat.
With these developments, Nairobi will join New York, Geneva and Vienna as one of only four cities worldwide hosting multiple UN headquarters.
Under the UN80 Initiative – a system-wide reform launched by the United Nations secretary general in March 2025 – the organisation aims to enhance its efficiency, effectiveness and relevance by streamlining operations, increasing impact and reaffirming its role in addressing global challenges.
A key aspect of this reform focuses on improving internal efficiency by reducing bureaucracy and optimising the UN’s global presence through relocating certain functions to lower-cost duty stations. Rwanda and Botswana have also expressed interest in hosting UN offices.
When Mudavadi hosted Philemon Yang, president of the 79th Session of the UN general assembly in February, he highlighted Kenya’s strategic position as a regional logistics and financial hub. This gives the country a competitive edge in supporting the agency’s pivotal role in multilateral diplomacy and advancing key global and regional priorities.
The expanded UN presence is expected to bring at least 800 additional staff members to Kenya, generating more jobs, increased spending by UN personnel and their families and new business opportunities.
Nairobi is also hosting the 20th Ordinary Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN-20) this week.
This year’s conference marks 40 years since AMCEN’s inception in Cairo in 1985 and is being held at the complex in Nairobi.
