NAIROBI, Kenya – The United Nations has launched a landmark $340 million expansion project at the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), in a move expected to elevate Nairobi into one of the world’s leading diplomatic and multilateral hubs.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and Kenyan President William Ruto presided over the groundbreaking ceremony on Monday at the UN complex in Gigiri, Nairobi.
The ambitious project includes the construction of modern climate-resilient office blocks and the expansion of conference facilities aimed at increasing the capacity of the Nairobi headquarters to host major global meetings and diplomatic engagements. According to the United Nations, the expansion will increase the number of meeting rooms from 14 to 30, while delegate seating capacity will rise from 2,000 to 9,000 once the project is completed in 2029.
The development is expected to position Nairobi as the third-largest UN hub globally after New York and Geneva, further cementing Kenya’s growing strategic importance in international diplomacy.
Speaking during the ceremony, President Ruto described Nairobi as the only UN headquarters in the Global South, saying the expansion reflects Kenya’s commitment to multilateral cooperation and sustainable development.
“As the only UN headquarters in the Global South, Nairobi stands as a powerful symbol that the United Nations truly belongs to all the peoples of the world,” Ruto said.
He added that the Kenyan government would continue investing in supporting infrastructure including roads, clean water, power, security, sanitation and healthcare services to support the growing international presence in the capital.
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