The United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) continues to attract an increasing number of UN agencies, driven by the city's strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and closeness to the communities the organisation serves.

In a recent interview, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNON Director-General Zainab Hawa Bangura emphasized that Nairobi functions as an extension of the UN Secretary-General’s headquarters, representing the UN leadership across Africa. She noted that ambassadors present their credentials to the Nairobi office similarly to how they do to national heads of state.

Unique Status within the UN System

Nairobi is home to the only two global UN headquarters on the African continent: the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). This makes the city a critical hub for the organisation’s activities in the region.

The UNON compound in Gigiri has grown into the world’s only inter-agency common premises, hosting multiple agencies focused on climate change, urbanisation, sustainable development, humanitarian aid, and peace operations under one roof.

Historical Foundations and Operational Efficiency

  • Kenya’s founding President Jomo Kenyatta allocated 100 acres for the UN complex.
  • Former President Daniel arap Moi added an extra 40 acres, expanding the site to 140 acres.
  • The Gigiri compound is now the largest UN facility globally, surpassing Geneva’s 113-acre headquarters.

Bangura highlighted that co-locating agencies reduces rental and administrative costs by sharing services such as security, internet, and maintenance. This consolidation enables more funding to be directed towards programmes benefiting communities.

Geographical and Climatic Advantages

Nairobi’s position along the Equator allows the UN to reach nearly any global destination within 12 hours by air. Currently, the Nairobi office serves 166 countries, extending as far as the Asia-Pacific region including Fiji and Indonesia.

The continent’s growing importance to the UN is underscored by Africa hosting 18 of the world’s 20 poorest countries and 8 of the 10 nations most affected by climate change, alongside 15 of the fastest-growing economies globally.

Additionally, Nairobi’s moderate climate reduces the need for costly heating or air conditioning, further lowering operational expenses.

Kenya’s Role in Multilateralism

Bangura also credited Kenya’s sustained commitment to multilateral cooperation by successive governments as a key factor in Nairobi’s emergence as a preferred base for expanding UN operations.