The Director-General of the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON), Zainab Bangura, has revealed that the planned expansion of the offices will require Ksh 38.8 billion (USD 267 million). This decision follows the approval of project financing by the UN General Assembly in 2023, with contributions from member states, including Kenya, which generously donated land for the expansion.
Speaking at the Sixth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, Bangura emphasized the necessity of the expansion due to the significant number of individuals attending international conferences hosted at the office. She stated, “The Secretary-General has been addressing the deteriorating condition and limited capacity of conference facilities at the UNON in recent annual reports to the General Assembly.”
The expansion project aims to enhance the office’s efficiency and will feature a 9,000-capacity conference center, modern office spaces, lounges, a visitors’ entry pavilion, a visitors’ center, a delegate dining building, a media center, and a multi-functional pavilion. The project is scheduled to commence in 2025 and is set to be completed by 2030.
President William Ruto and Deputy Rigathi Gachagua have been strong advocates for the expansion, with President Ruto announcing additional land allocation for the facility upgrade during the UN General Assembly in September 2022. He urged Member States to provide enhanced financing to modernize the UNON facilities effectively.
This project is poised to be the largest undertaken by UNON and the UN in Africa, signaling a significant milestone in the organization’s commitment to serving the global community.
