Nairobi rises as UN global hub amid NY, Geneva office cost-cutting

Kenya’s capital Nairobi is set to become a major global hub for the United Nations,as the organization moves to decentralize operations and cut costs by relocating key offices from expensive cities like New York and Geneva.

By late 2026,Kenya’s capital will host three new global offices — UN Women,the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF),and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) — adding to its existing UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat headquarters. The decision,part of the UN@80 reform agenda,positions Nairobi alongside New York,Geneva,and Vienna as one of only four cities globally with multiple UN headquarters. With a $340 million investment,the expansion includes a state-of-the-art 9,000-seat Assembly Hall and 30 advanced conference rooms. Prime cabinet secretary Musalia Mudavadi welcomed the move,citing Nairobi’s strategic location and infrastructure. The Gigiri complex in the northern part of the Kenyan capital hosts 86 UN offices,making it the fastest-growing UN duty station worldwide.

While Nairobi leads the race,Rwanda and Botswana have also submitted formal pitches. Rwanda emphasized its stability,regional connectivity,and willingness to build a dedicated UN campus in Kigali. “Rwanda has positioned itself as a competitive destination for multilateral institutions,offering a cost-effective,secure,reliable,and enabling environment for their operations,” prime minister Edouard Ngirente Ngirente said. This restructuring comes amid financial strain across UN agencies. A recent memo instructed New York and Geneva offices to identify roles suitable for relocation to lower-cost duty stations. Nairobi,with its growing reputation,now stands at the center of a historic realignment — bringing global diplomacy closer to the regions it most impacts.