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Monday, 11 May 2026
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Monday, 11 May 2026
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Kenyan press · Organization

United Nations Office at Nairobi

Also known as: UNON · United Nations Office in Nairobi

United Nations Office at Nairobi — UN headquarters in Gigiri undergoing $340 million expansion to increase conference capacity and modernise facilities, positioning Nairobi as third-largest UN hub globally.

2026-04-272026-05-12

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. April 2026
Politics

Kenya invests $1.1 billion to expand UN Nairobi infrastructure

The News

President William Ruto announced that Kenya is investing $1.1 billion (KSh143 billion) to upgrade Nairobi's infrastructure in support of the United Nations Office expansion, including roads, street lighting, river regeneration, ICT security, and a UN One-Stop Shop, positioning Nairobi as a hub for global diplomacy and conferencing.

Why it matters

Kenya's $1.1 billion UN infrastructure investment is a significant domestic commitment with long-term strategic importance for Nairobi's global positioning.

15 hours ago · Capital News

Sunday 10 May

  1. Kenya invests $1.1 billion to expand UN Nairobi infrastructure

    President William Ruto announced that Kenya is investing $1.1 billion (KSh143 billion) to upgrade Nairobi's infrastructure in support of the United Nations Office expansion, including roads, street lighting, river regeneration, ICT security, and a UN One-Stop Shop, positioning Nairobi as a hub for global diplomacy and conferencing.

    15 hours ago · Capital News

  2. Ruto, Guterres break ground for UNON Assembly Hall expansion

    President William Ruto and UN Secretary-General António Guterres broke ground for the expansion and modernisation of the United Nations Office in Nairobi, which Ruto said will position Nairobi as a premium hub for conferences and exhibitions. Kenya is investing $1.1 billion in support of Nairobi's infrastructure upgrade, including roads, street lighting, river regeneration, and ICT systems.

    16 hours ago · Citizen Digital

  3. UN Secretary-General arrives in Nairobi for Africa Forward Summit

    António Guterres has arrived in Nairobi for the Africa Forward Summit 2026, a two-day gathering co-hosted by President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron. Over 30 African Heads of State and Government are expected to attend, with discussions focused on sustainable development, economic cooperation, innovation, and Africa's transformation agenda.

    11 May 2026 · Capital News

  4. UN Secretary-General to launch UNON expansion project in Nairobi

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres will visit Kenya on May 11, 2026, to join President William Ruto in launching a USD 340 million expansion of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) in Gigiri, which will modernise facilities and increase conference capacity from 14 to 30 rooms and delegate capacity from about 2,000 to 9,000 participants.

    11 May 2026 · Capital News

  5. UN Secretary-General Guterres arrives for Africa Forward Summit

    United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has arrived in Nairobi for the Africa Forward Summit 2026, a high-level forum co-hosted by President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss the continent's development agenda, sustainable development, economic cooperation, and innovation. While in Kenya, Guterres is also scheduled to attend the groundbreaking of a UN Office expansion project in Gigiri, estimated at about Sh44.2 billion.

    11 May 2026 · The Standard

  6. Guterres criticizes global financial system for unfair African treatment

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking in Nairobi at the Africa Forward Summit 2026, criticized the global financial system for disadvantaging African countries, noting that African nations pay more than three times more than developed countries to obtain loans and are excluded from major global decision-making institutions. He called for reforms including permanent African representation on the UN Security Council and a stronger voice in global financial institutions.

    11 May 2026 · The Standard

Yesterday

  1. Ruto and UN Secretary General to inaugurate Nairobi expansion project

    President William Ruto and United Nations Secretary General António Guterres will inaugurate the UN's Nairobi Expansion Project in Gigiri, a $340 million initiative approved by UN member states in December 2023 that includes upgrades to conference facilities and office blocks at the UN headquarters.

    10 May 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 6 May

  1. UN invests $340 million to expand Nairobi headquarters

    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.

    7 May 2026 · Capital News

  2. UN invests Sh44bn to expand Nairobi headquarters complex

    The United Nations is undertaking one of its largest infrastructure investments in Africa, with Sh44 billion earmarked for expansion of its Nairobi headquarters in Gigiri. UN Secretary-General António Guterres will visit Kenya next week to join President William Ruto for the groundbreaking of a new conference facility and inauguration of modern office buildings, positioning Nairobi as the third-largest UN hub globally after New York and Geneva.

    7 May 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 29 April

  1. Kenya hosts inaugural global conference on diplomatic privileges June 2026

    Kenya will host the inaugural Diplomatic Conference on the Administration and Management of Privileges and Immunities on June 25–26 in Nairobi, bringing together global stakeholders to strengthen how host countries implement international obligations governing diplomatic relations. The conference will focus on enhancing frameworks such as the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and aligning legal and policy frameworks across jurisdictions.

    30 April 2026 · Capital News

Sunday 26 April

  1. AHF calls for enforceable health equity commitments at Nairobi summit

    The AIDS Healthcare Foundation is urging global leaders to adopt binding equity measures in pandemic preparedness, warning that without enforceable commitments new health frameworks risk repeating COVID-19 failures. The call comes as over 1,000 delegates gather in Nairobi for the World Health Summit Regional Meeting 2026 while parallel Geneva negotiations continue on a pandemic agreement and Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing system.

    27 April 2026 · Capital News

  2. Duale calls for coordinated African response to non-communicable diseases

    Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has urged intensified multisectoral action to address rising non-communicable diseases, injuries, and mental health conditions across Africa, highlighting Kenya's efforts through the National NCD Intersectoral Coordination Committee and health reforms that have extended coverage to chronic conditions and mental health services for more than 30.6 million Kenyans.

    27 April 2026 · Capital News

United Nations Office at Nairobi — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute