Nairobi
Kenya
Secretary-General's remarks on Inauguration of New Office Buildings at the UN Office in Nairobi and Groundbreaking of the Conference Facility [as delivered]
Statements | António Guterres, Secretary-General
Statements | António Guterres, Secretary-General
Your Excellency, Dr. William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya,
Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Dear Colleagues and friends,
Good morning.
It is a great pleasure to mark these two milestones in the United Nations presence in Africa – and our shared journey toward a more inclusive and forward-looking multilateralism.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new assembly hall and the inauguration of new office buildings are symbols of our collective ambition.
And a reaffirmation of the central role that Africa – and Kenya – play in the life and future of the United Nations.
Nairobi is neither a satellite nor an outpost.
It is a pillar – the only United Nations headquarters in Africa – and in the Global South.
From its beginnings in the 1970s as the home of UNEP and UN-Habitat, this campus – generously donated by the Government of Kenya – has grown into a dynamic hub of multilateral action.
Nairobi is a place where global challenges meet regional solutions.
Where innovation is born.
And where the future of multilateralism is being shaped – every day.
This is a powerful demonstration of what the United Nations can achieve when we are focused, efficient, and united in purpose.
Thanks to exemplary collaboration across agencies, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNFPA and UN Women have moved staff into the heart of the UN family at Gigiri.
What has been achieved here is not just buildings.
It is a blueprint for the future.
The new offices are UNON’s first net-zero building – powered year-round by on-site solar.
The expanded conference facilities will add further solar installations, bringing the complex to energy neutrality by 2030.
The dry upland forest is also returning to Gigiri.
Nearly 3,000 indigenous trees have already been planted alongside the office buildings, and another 3,000 will follow as the conference complex rises.
Every building is designed with universal accessibility at its core.
Today, we also look ahead.
In just two years, this ground will host world leaders confronting the most pressing issues of our time.
They will gather in a new amphitheater carved into African soil and surrounded by the Kenyan Forest.
It will anchor a modern conference complex with capacity for 9,000 people – welcoming delegates, civil society, and the public.
All of this comes at a time of transformation for our Organization.
As we mark the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, we are reimagining how we work – how we deliver – how we lead.
We do so recognizing the role of this great continent.
Africa is a driver of solutions, a source of innovation, and a voice of moral clarity in our shared pursuit of peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights.
Across the continent, we see talent, dynamism and determination.
Countries and communities advancing clean energy, digital innovation, peacebuilding and economic transformation.
But that potential is being held back by global obstacles that Africa did not create – from unjust borrowing costs and crushing debt burdens to a deeply unequal international system that reflects last century’s power relations.
True solidarity with Africa means helping remove those obstacles.
It means reforming the institutions of global governance so African countries have the representation, voice and decision-making power they deserve – including in the Security Council and the international financial institutions.
And it means easing debt burdens, lowering the cost of capital, and mobilizing far greater investment and market access in support of Africa’s sustainable development.
That is also why the expansion of UNON – and the growing presence of UN entities here in Nairobi – matters so much.
It reflects our commitment to bringing the United Nations closer to the people and regions it serves.
Dear friends,
Today, we are opening a new chapter.
A chapter of deeper collaboration. Greater ambition. And stronger partnership between the United Nations and the people of Africa.
I want to express my deep gratitude to the Government and people of Kenya: thank you for your unwavering support and generosity.
To all the women and men who have made these projects possible: thank you for your perseverance.
And to our colleagues who call Nairobi home: thank you for your dedication and commitment.
May these new spaces inspire bold ideas, enduring partnerships, and lasting impact.
Asante. Thank you.