President William Ruto and UN Secretary-General António Guterres have launched the expansion and modernization of the United Nations Office at Nairobi, reinforcing the city's status as a global diplomacy hub.

• Kenya is investing $1.1 billion (KSh143 billion) in infrastructure upgrades to support Nairobi as the UN headquarters in the Global South.
• Key figures involved include President William Ruto and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
• The modernized UN facility, including a new assembly hall, aims to host world leaders and will be powered by onsite solar, achieving energy neutrality by 2029.

President William Ruto and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres officially opened and broke ground for the expanded United Nations complex in Nairobi on Monday, May 11, 2026. The project aims to bolster Nairobi's role as a global hub for multilateral diplomacy.

• The expansion project is valued at $340 million (Sh43.8 billion), increasing conference capacity to 7,000 people.
• Key figures involved include President William Ruto and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, with calls for justice for the Global South.
• Calls were made for Africa to secure a greater share in global institutions, including permanent seats on the UN Security Council and fairer quotas in the IMF and World Bank.

Kenya and France are set to partner in advancing the digital economy, recognizing its potential to drive cross-border trade and create opportunities for African youth.

• The partnership aims to increase investment in digital technology to benefit the continent's majority youth population.
• Key figures include Kenya's ICT CS William Kabogo and France's Minister for AI and Digital Technologies Clara Chappaz.
• A notable initiative involves the Kenya Development Corporation pushing for policy changes to protect intellectual property and support digital startups, alongside France's commitment to peer-to-peer learning opportunities for tech-savvy youth.

United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres hailed Nairobi as a critical pillar of global multilateralism during the launch of a major expansion of its headquarters in Kenya.

• The expansion project, costing nearly USD 340 million (Ksh 44.2 billion), signifies a growing shift of global influence toward Africa.
• Key figures involved include UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the Kenyan government.
• The new office buildings are the UN's first net-zero facilities, powered entirely by on-site solar energy, with the goal of making the campus energy-neutral by 2030.