UN Photo United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during his visit to Kenya. The UN is implementing a large-scale project to expand its representation in Nairobi UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday attended the opening of new office buildings at the UN complex in Nairobi, as well as the groundbreaking ceremony for the conference center. In his speech, he called these projects a symbol of a “new stage” of the UN presence in Africa and confirmation of the continent’s growing role in world politics.
The ceremony was attended by Kenyan President William Ruto, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps, international organizations and UN staff.
In his speech, Antonio Guterres emphasized that Nairobi is not a “satellite” or an “outpost”, but one of the key centers of the United Nations. He recalled that the complex in the capital of Kenya is the only UN headquarters in Africa and the entire Global South.
“Nairobi is a place where global challenges find regional solutions, where innovations are born,” the Secretary General said. “The future of multilateral cooperation is being shaped here every day.”
“Green” project
The UN chief noted that the new offices became the first UN Office building in Nairobi with zero emissions: they are completely powered by solar installations. The expansion of infrastructure, he said, will allow the entire complex to achieve energy neutrality by 2030.
Guterres paid special attention to the environmental component of the project. About three thousand native trees have already been planted throughout the complex, and the same number are planned to be planted during the construction of the new conference center. All buildings are designed with universal accessibility in mind.
According to the Secretary-General, in two years, world leaders will gather at this site to discuss key international issues. The new conference complex will include an amphitheater and facilities with a total capacity of up to nine thousand people.
The $340 million project approved by the General Assembly is the largest UN construction project in Africa in the Organization’s 80 years of existence. The investment is expected to transform Nairobi into one of the world’s leading UN centers.
In his speech, the UN chief linked the development of the Nairobi complex to broader reforms of the Organization. According to him, the UN is committed to rethinking the way it works and strengthening cooperation with regions where new global initiatives are being formed.
“A source of innovation and a locomotive of moral leadership”
Guterres noted that Africa remains a “source of innovation and a locomotive of moral leadership,” but its development are held back by high debt burdens, unequal access to finance and an outdated system of global governance.
“Genuine solidarity with Africa means helping to remove these obstacles,” the Secretary General emphasized. He reiterated his call for reform of the UN Security Council and international financial institutions to give African states greater representation and influence.
Concluding his speech, the Secretary-General thanked the government and people of Kenya for their support of the UN and expressed hope that the new spaces in Nairobi will become a place for “bold ideas, strong partnerships and long-term solutions.”