UN’s Largest Complex in Nairobi Begins Upgrade, Rivaling New York Hub
The United Nations has embarked on a major expansion of its secretariat headquarters in Nairobi, strengthening Kenya’s capital as one of the most important diplomatic hubs in the Global South. The Nairobi complex is already the UN’s largest worldwide and the only headquarters located in Africa.
According to the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), the organization is investing $62 million in new office blocks and renovations across the 140-acre (57-hectare) site in Gigiri. The expansion is expected to increase the complex’s capacity by about 20 percent, enabling more UN agencies, funds, and programs to shift parts of their regional and global operations to Kenya.
Alongside the office upgrades, the UN has committed $265.6 million towards constructing a new state-of-the-art conference facility and upgrading the existing one. Once complete, the venues will accommodate up to 9,000 delegates, a significant jump from the current 2,000 capacity.
“We’re making every effort to position UNON at par with New York and Geneva headquarters, including in hosting global cooperation multilateral meetings,” UNON Director General Zainab Hawa Bangura told Bloomberg.
The UNON expansion further cements Nairobi’s growing stature as a top-tier global diplomatic hub. The development is set to boost Kenya’s international profile, attracting high-level summits and delegations while stimulating the local economy through hospitality, transport, and service industries.
Strategically, the investment strengthens Kenya’s soft power, giving the country a stronger voice in shaping UN policies, particularly on African and developing world priorities. It also signals long-term confidence in Kenya as a stable and reliable host for sensitive global operations and negotiations.
The upgrade comes as part of a broader UN reform initiative to decentralize operations from traditional hubs to more affordable and strategically placed cities. Nairobi’s Gigiri complex is already undergoing extensive improvements ahead of the planned relocation of additional UN agencies by 2026.
Among the offices expected to join are the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN WOMEN). They will add to Nairobi’s existing two global headquarters: the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-HABITAT.
With billions of dollars in investment, thousands of international staff, and upgraded world-class facilities, Nairobi’s UN hub is now positioning itself to rival New York and Geneva in global diplomatic influence.
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UN’s Largest Complex in Nairobi Begins Upgrade, Rivaling New York Hub