The United Nations (UN) has promised to bring more than 500 new staff to Kenya in 2025 following the country’s strong diplomatic status in the world.
Speaking during the Conference on the Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of Kenya’s Diplomatic Journey on Thursday, 5th December, 2024, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Kenya Stephen Jackson promised that UN will have new conference facilities to make the UN in Kenya very accessible.
“In 2025 we are expecting to bring over five hundred (500) staff from all over the world. We will also have new conference facilities to make the UN in Kenya very accessible… Kenya in the UN and the UN in Kenya- is a partnership that has benefited us both. From the UN we see Kenya as having and continuing to have a role in the UN. When you speak countries listen,” Jackson stated.
The UN facilities in Kenya were initially established in 1974 as the home of the UN Environmental Programme and have rapidly developed into the largest UN global headquarters, serving the UN and its agencies in Africa.
The General Assembly in its resolution 78/253 approved the construction of new facilities under the Gigiri Masterplan, which will accommodate 9,000 in-person participants with an estimated project area of 95,700 square metres at a maximum overall cost of $265.7 million (Ksh34 billion).
The project scope includes a new 1,600-capacity general assembly hall, new visitors’ centre, new media centre and fully renovated conference room interiors.
The project design phase commenced in 2023 and construction is scheduled to begin in 2025; the project will be completed by 2030.
Kenya’s diplomatic journey
The expansion of UN offices in Kenya shows the diplomatic trust Kenya has gained in the international community 60 years since its diplomatic journey started.
Kenya’s diplomatic journey dates back to 1964, a year after independence, when it opened its first six missions in Peking (currently Beijing), Moscow (USSR- now Russia), London (United Kingdom), Bonn (Germany), Cairo (Egypt), New York (UN) and Paris (France).
Today, Kenya has 68 missions spread across the world, championing for the country’s interests. These comprise of 29 missions in Africa; 16 Missions in Asia/Middle East; 14 in Europe; five in America and one in Oceania. This diplomatic footprint also includes offices in the United Nations Capitals of Nairobi, New York, Geneva, and Paris.
Speaking recently, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei called on Kenya’s private Sector to leverage on the country’s strong diplomatic ties to spread its wings abroad.
“The international political economy is in the midst of an incredible transition, and private sector is emerging as a key player in the process. The “soft power” of the private sector in the world economy and world politics has clearly expanded. Our private sector, therefore, has an opportunity to leverage on the numerous pro-business environments and cut a share of the pie of international trade and investment,” Sing’oei stated.
Read: Inside Kenya’s 60 Years of Diplomatic Journey
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