Nairobi is strengthening its position as one of the United Nations' most important global centres, with the organisation saying a growing number of its agencies are relocating to the Kenyan capital because it offers easier access to key regions, lower operating costs and a base closer to the people its programmes are meant to serve.
Speaking during an interview on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) Zainab Hawa Bangura said the Nairobi office is not simply a regional presence but an extension of the UN Secretary-General's headquarters, carrying both administrative and diplomatic responsibilities on the continent.
“In the UN, we say this office is away from headquarters. It is basically an extension of the Secretary-General’s office. We represent the Secretary-General and have representational mandates, with ambassadors presenting their credentials to us just as they do to the President,” the official said.
Bangura said Nairobi remains the only city in Africa hosting two global UN headquarters — the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) — giving Kenya a special place within the organisation.
She added that the United Nations Office at Nairobi has grown into the world's only common premises where multiple UN agencies operate from one compound, bringing together organisations working on climate change, sustainable development, humanitarian response, peace operations and urban development.
Bangura traced the growth of the Gigiri complex to Kenya's founding President Jomo Kenyatta, who allocated 100 acres of land for the UN, before former President Daniel arap Moi added another 40 acres.
The expansion has made the Nairobi complex the largest UN compound in the world, covering 140 acres compared to about 113 acres occupied by the UN headquarters in Geneva.
According to Bangura, bringing agencies together in one location has helped reduce spending by cutting office rental costs while allowing them to share services such as security, internet and maintenance.
“The Secretary-General’s vision is to have agencies together because it reduces the rent you pay outside and lowers administrative costs, allowing more resources to be directed towards programmes that benefit people,” the official explained.
She also cited Nairobi's position on the Equator as another major advantage, saying the city provides easy access to almost every part of the world within a 12-hour flight.
Bangura said the Nairobi office currently provides services to 166 countries, including Fiji, Indonesia and nations across the Asia-Pacific region.
She added that Africa continues to play an increasingly important role in the UN's work because many of the organisation's priorities are concentrated on the continent.
According to the Director-General, 18 of the world's 20 poorest countries are in Africa, while eight of the 10 countries most affected by climate change are also found on the continent. She also noted that Africa is home to 15 of the world's fastest-growing economies.
For that reason, Bangura said it is practical for agencies dealing with issues such as climate change and urbanisation to operate closer to the communities they support.
She further noted that Nairobi's mild weather helps keep operating costs low because UN facilities require very little heating or air conditioning, allowing the organisation to direct more resources towards programmes that improve people's lives.