President William Ruto and UN Secretary-General António Guterres will commission the USD 340 million expansion of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), transforming it into a major global hub.

• The expansion includes new climate-resilient office blocks and upgraded conferencing facilities, increasing seating capacity for delegates from 2,000 to 9,000.
• Key figures involved include President William Ruto and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, alongside the Director-General of UNON, Mrs Zainab Hawa Bangura.
• This significant investment positions Nairobi as the third largest UN global hub after New York and Geneva, reflecting Kenya’s longstanding support for multilateralism.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is in Nairobi for the Africa Forward Summit 2026 and to oversee the expansion of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON).

• The UNON expansion project is estimated at USD 340 million (approximately Sh44.2 billion).
• Key figures include UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Kenyan President William Ruto, who is co-hosting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
• The summit will discuss sustainable development and economic cooperation, while the UNON expansion will significantly increase capacity, positioning Nairobi as the third-largest UN duty station.

Kenyan diplomat Dr. Monica Juma has officially assumed office as the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV) and Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), marking a significant appointment for an African official within the UN system.

• Dr. Monica Juma, holding the rank of United Nations Under-Secretary-General, is now a senior leader at one of the UN's four major global headquarters.
• She expressed commitment to advancing the UN's global mandate on justice and security, focusing on challenges like drugs, organized crime, corruption, and terrorism.
• Dr. Juma brings extensive experience from roles including Kenya’s first-ever National Security Adviser and former Cabinet Secretary for Defence and Foreign Affairs.