Nairobi – a place of cool waters – is on spotlight with all good reasons after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the 193-member powerful global organization’s plan to shift headquarters of its key agencies – the UN Women, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) – in the Kenyan capital likely in late 2026.
The Kenyan capital already hosts the UN Environment and the UN Office at Nairobi (UNON) besides the Parliament House, the presidential State House, the Supreme Court building, stock exchange, and thousands of businesses, cultural centers, foreign companies and other organizations. Being closer to Africa – where a large portion of the UN’s humanitarian activities are focused – will enable faster regional response and deeper community engagement.
The UN secretary-general said that all secretariat entities in New York and Geneva have been asked to review their functions to determine if any can be performed from existing lower-cost locations. “This is about making the UN fit for purpose, for the challenges of today and the demands of tomorrow,” he said. With some of the highest real estate prices in Africa, Nairobi is witnessing renewed activity in the upmarket suburbs of Gigiri, Runda, and Muthaiga.
Kenyan officials confirmed that the office infrastructure for more UN offices has already been completed at Gigiri – a diplomatic hotspot and a prosperous neighborhood with family houses, colonial estates and a sizable expat community. Despite this progress, the officials still not sure about number of the staff that may be relocated after the complete shifting of the headquarters of the UN agencies. As per UNFPA, up to twenty-five percent of its global staff will be relocated to Nairobi in late 2025.
Kenya stands to gain significantly in terms of diplomatic prestige, regional influence, and job creation across several professional sectors
Some New York-based employees expressed resistance to the relocation of the UN agencies due to personal and professional concerns due to work-life balance, specialized service access, and socio-political adjustments. In Kenya, some locals expressed concerns over housing costs in key areas due to high salaries of foreign staff. Despite challenges, Kenya stands to gain significantly in terms of diplomatic prestige, regional influence, and job creation across several professional sectors.
In February, UN Office at Nairobi (UNON) Director-General Zainab Hawa Bangura highlighted Nairobi’s growing prominence as a key UN hub, as the Kenyan capital hosts 86 UN offices, 73 of which are located within the Gigiri complex. Beyond the symbolic perspective, the relocation of more UN offices is expected to reshape the employment landscape in the African region. Backed by a $340 million investment, the expansion includes infrastructure upgrades at the UN complex in Nairobi, the officials said.
A key feature in infrastructure upgrades will be a state-of-the-art 9,000-seat Assembly Hall – the first such facility built for the UN General Assembly functions outside New York since 1949. In addition, 30 new conference rooms will be included in the plan sheet. The development will position Nairobi’s UN hub among the most advanced globally, rivaling Geneva and New York in scale and capacity, the local officials stated. Also known as the Safari Capital of the World, Nairobi is a diverse melting pot of African cultures, as it hosts all tribes that make up Kenya, and hosts a large immigrant population.
Situated between Kampala and Mombasa cities, Nairobi has just two seasons – the wet season and dry season – as the largest Kenyan city is situated close to the equator. In rainy seasons, rainfall can be moderate while the cloudiest part of the year is just after the first rainy season. The timing of sunrise and sunset varies little throughout the year. In the west, the Ngong Hills are the most prominent geographical feature while Mount Kenya is situated north, and Mount Kilimanjaro is towards the south-east.
Former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said Kenya was the first place he travelled to for rest and reflection, an experience he credits with helping him transition into his post-UN career in 2016. “Kenya came to my rescue in a moment of need and served up a tonic that has helped propel me forward ever since,” he said, and shared his family’s strong connections with Nairobi. He said these personal ties make him feel particularly a Kenyan himself. “This century is Africa’s century. But Africa will only secure its future if it can protect its development from climate shocks,” he stated.
