UNITED NATIONS INFORMATION SERVICE
For Kenya, Uganda and The Seychelles _________________________________________________________________________
MEDIA ADVISORY
UN Chief to Address Press in Nairobi as over $340 Million Expansion Signals Africa’s Rising Global Role
Date:Monday, 11 May 2026; Time: 11:00am
Venue:United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON)
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, will address a press conference at the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) following a groundbreaking and office inauguration ceremony with the President of the Republic of Kenya, William Samoei Ruto, for a major expansion of the UN’s Nairobi headquarters.
The events come as the United Nations advances an over USD 340 million investment in Nairobi, reinforcing the city’s position as the only UN Secretariat headquarters in the Global South and a growing hub for global decision-making.
WHAT / WHEN
Groundbreaking Ceremony
11:00 a.m. | KaribUNi roundabout, UNON, Gigiri
Press Conference
1:00 p.m. | Press Centre, UNON, Gigiri
The Secretary-General is expected to address:
• Global power shift toward Africa, including calls for permanent African representation on the Security Council
• The current humanitarian situation in Sudan, South Sudan, the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Sahel, among other places.
• The impact of the current situation in the Middle East and how it is specifically impacting many African countries.
• Reform of global finance, including high borrowing costs facing African economies
BACKGROUND
The Nairobi expansion — approved by the General Assembly — reflects a broader shift: bringing multilateral decision-making closer to the regions most affected by global challenges. It includes new modern, permanent, and climate-resilient office blocks (US$ 66.2 million) and new upgraded conferencing facilities (US$ 265.7 million) that will increase the number of meeting rooms from 14 to 30, and seating capacity from 2,000 to 9,000 delegates, positioning UNON as the third largest UN global hub after New York and Geneva, the fourth being Vienna. In addition, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has invested (US$ 11.2 million) in new office blocks at UNON.
MEDIA ACCESS
Media representatives are requested to confirm attendance (Name, ID/Passport and Media house) to unon-nairobiunis@un.org and cc: tirus.wainaina@un.org and arrive at UNON by 9:45 am on Monday 11 May to allow for security clearance. Please carry your ID/Passport and Press Card.
*** For more information please contact:
Newton Kanhema Tel: +254 709 021102; kanhema@un.org OR Tirus Wainaina Tel: +254 716 431765; tirus.wainaina@un.org