UN agency focused on sustainable housing, urban development, and sustainable cities; warned of Africa's housing crisis and rapid urbanization at 2026 Nairobi climate summit.
… Wetang’ula linked Kenya’s role in international environmental governance to its responsibility to advance environmental protection, noting that the country hosts UN-Habitat. …
… Former Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa also appealed to politicians and their supporters to uphold peace as the campaign season heats up nationwide. “We all need Kenya to stay peaceful while we seek votes, as we have no other place to call home,” Dr Wamalwa remarked.UN-Habitat Permanen …
… Speaking at the Kisii Agricultural Training Centre ahead of the celebrations, the governor said more than 12 governors, Members of Parliament, non-governmental organisations, development partners and representatives from UN-Habitat are expected to attend the national event in Kis …
From Nyambera dumpsite to Etaya Governors Park: Arati's cleanup wins UN-Habitat recognition By Citizen Reporter September 20, 2026 11:30 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Kisii Governor Simba Arati Hosts UN-H …
… UN-Habitat says tackling food waste can help strengthen environmental sustainability, food security and more resource-efficient and inclusive urban development.World Cleanup Day therefore goes beyond the traditional image of volunteers picking up litter. …
… Kenya’s Permanent Representative to UN-Habitat, Susan Nakhumicha echoed the call for protection of the media and freedom of expression, saying journalists play a critical role in ensuring citizens receive information. …
… He was also Kenya's Permanent Representative to the UN Environment Programme and UN-Habitat (2012-2015), as well as Director of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism (2011-2012). …
… ore his posting to New York, Kimani served as Director of Kenya’s National Counter Terrorism Centre and the President’s Special Envoy for Countering Violent Extremism between 2015 and 2020.He was also Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN Environment Programme and UN-Habitat …
… Anaclaudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, challenged the common belief that informal settlements arise solely from disorderly urban growth. …
Kenya and South Korea reaffirmed their six-decade partnership at a reception in Nairobi, highlighting cooperation in technology, human capital development, defence, trade and investment. Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei emphasised the countries' shared commitment to multilateralism and peaceful dispute resolution.
Kenya and South Korea reaffirmed their six-decade partnership at a reception in Nairobi, highlighting cooperation in technology, human capital development, defence, trade and investment. Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei emphasised the countries' shared commitment to multilateralism and peaceful dispute resolution.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has called for the establishment of a sustainable African financing mechanism for climate action, urging the continent to back climate commitments with domestic resources and stronger laws rather than relying on external financing.
Democratic Action Party of Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa accused the Registrar of Political Parties of frustrating leaders from the Linda Mwananchi movement who are seeking to establish new parties after leaving ODM, and invited Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna to join DAP-K. Wamalwa also called on Parliament and the Judiciary to expedite electoral law amendments and resolve legal uncertainties ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Kisii County will host Kenya's national observance of World Cleanup Day, with more than 15,000 people expected to participate. The event, themed "From Clean Plates to Clean Cities," will focus on reducing food waste and building sustainable urban centres, with participation from over 12 governors, Members of Parliament, NGOs, and UN-Habitat representatives.
Kisii Governor Simba Arati has been recognized for transforming the Nyambera dumpsite into Etaya Governors Park. Arati warned during World Cleanup Day 2026 celebrations that African cities struggle with waste management, citing recent deadly landfill collapses in Uganda and Guinea.
Kenya joined the world on September 20 in observing World Cleanup Day, established by the UN General Assembly to combat waste pollution. This year's global theme, "From Clean Plates to Clean Cities," centers on food waste, with Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Deborah Barasa leading public cleanup exercises.
The Anglican Church of Kenya Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit has condemned the alleged abduction of Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich and warned that growing political intolerance, goonism, and attacks on freedom of expression could undermine Kenya's democratic space. He called on politicians to abandon violence and intimidation ahead of the 2027 General Election, noting that targeting media practitioners, social media commenters, and citizens for their opinions contradicts the Constitution.
Ambassador Martin Kimani has been appointed the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Africa by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, to the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations. Kimani, who previously served as Kenya's Permanent Representative to the UN (2020–2024) and held positions on the UN Security Council, succeeds Ghana's Akyaa Pobee.
Kenya's Martin Kimani has been appointed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations. Kimani, who served as Kenya's Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2020 to 2024, brings 25 years of experience in international relations, peace and security.
The Innovate4Cities Conference (I4C26) opened in Nairobi with community street art and plenary sessions emphasizing that climate action success depends on how cities accommodate growing populations through climate-resilient housing and inclusive urban planning. The conference, being hosted in Africa for the first time, brought together residents, policymakers, climate scientists and international delegates to discuss sustainability, climate resilience and the role of communities in shaping urban environments.
Global leaders, scientists, policymakers and city officials meeting in Nairobi at the 2026 Innovate4Cities Conference have called for deeper collaboration between governments, researchers, businesses and communities to accelerate climate action and build sustainable cities amid rapid urbanization. UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach warned that Africa's cities are expanding at an unprecedented pace while millions lack adequate housing and basic urban services.
Global leaders, scientists, policymakers and city officials meeting in Nairobi at the 2026 Innovate4Cities Conference have called for deeper collaboration between governments, researchers, businesses and communities to accelerate climate action and build sustainable cities. UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach warned that Africa's cities are expanding at an unprecedented pace while millions lack adequate housing and basic urban services.
Nairobi opened the 2026 Innovate4Cities Conference on Saturday with a community street art initiative featuring murals on sustainability and climate resilience across the city. The week-long conference at the UN Complex in Gigiri brings together residents, policymakers, climate experts, and international delegates to discuss climate action and urban development.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said Kenya has committed Sh140 billion toward the expansion of the United Nations Office in Nairobi, complementing Sh44 billion invested by the UN, and that the government has allocated USD 1.1 billion for infrastructure upgrades around the Gigiri diplomatic enclave.
Deputy President Kindiki said Kenya has allocated Ksh.140 billion to support the United Nations Office in Nairobi expansion project, which the UN has allocated Ksh.44 billion for. Kenya has also invested USD 1.1 billion in infrastructure around the Gigiri diplomatic enclave to support the modernization.
Kenya has allocated about Sh140 billion to support the expansion of United Nations offices in Nairobi, with the UN contributing Sh44 billion, as part of a broader Sh140 billion investment to modernize the Gigiri diplomatic enclave's infrastructure. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the government views the expansion as both a strategic diplomatic achievement and an economic opportunity to elevate Nairobi's global status.
A United Nations-sanctioned report has identified backyard extensions as one solution countries can adopt to address the global housing crisis, which UN-Habitat warns is worsening amid rapid urbanisation and slow policy implementation.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi addressed Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, calling for renewed Global South solidarity and stronger multilateral cooperation, and warning that rising unilateralism and weaponisation of economic tools are straining multilateralism as countries rethink their diplomatic and economic strategies.
Kenya has presented its two-million housing shortage as both a development emergency and a business opportunity for investors while lobbying for funding at the World Urban Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan, where a Kenyan session detailed challenges of financing housing at scale amid shrinking external funding.
President William Ruto has called for stronger African multilateral financing and reform of the global financial architecture to tackle the housing crisis driven by rapid urbanisation. He highlighted that Africa will be home to 25 per cent of the world's population by 2050, with 70 per cent living in urban areas, making affordable housing urgent and essential.
President William Ruto held bilateral talks with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on the sidelines of the 13th World Urban Forum, discussing cooperation in trade, investment, and sustainable development, with focus on Kenya's Affordable Housing Programme.
President William Ruto will push for reform of global housing finance systems at the 13th World Urban Forum in Baku, arguing that developing countries need more flexible and accessible financing to address rapid urbanisation and housing demand. Kenya plans to promote its Affordable Housing Programme and seek expanded international investment in housing infrastructure and climate-resilient urban development.
President William Ruto has travelled to Baku, Azerbaijan, for the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), where Kenya will showcase its Affordable Housing Programme and sustainable urban development achievements. The government-convened forum aims to address the global housing crisis and Kenya will seek to mobilise partnerships and investments for scaling up housing and urban renewal projects.
President William Ruto is attending the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan, where Kenya will present its Affordable Housing Programme as a model for sustainable urban development. On the sidelines, Ruto is expected to hold bilateral talks with heads of state and investors on cooperation in energy, ICT, infrastructure, and other areas.
UN-Habitat has opened nominations for its 2026 Scroll of Honour Award, recognizing initiatives advancing sustainable housing and urban development ahead of a June 23 deadline. The award, launched in 1989, will honor winners during World Habitat Day on October 5, 2026, as the agency highlights that an estimated 2.8 billion people worldwide experience housing inadequacy.
The United Nations is making a nearly $340 million infrastructure investment in Africa, expanding its Nairobi office into one of the UN's most significant global hubs. Secretary-General António Guterres will join President William Ruto on Monday for the groundbreaking of a new conference facility and inauguration of modern office buildings, replacing aging structures from the 1970s.
First Lady Rachel Ruto handed over a school bus to Farasi Lane School in Nairobi on April 29, fulfilling a pledge made during a UN-Habitat event at the school on May 30, 2025. Mrs Ruto said the donation represents an investment in safety, dignity and opportunity for children, and emphasised partnerships' importance in addressing learner challenges.