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In Pictures: Kenya and the UN Break Ground on New Assembly Hall in Nairobi

11 May 2026
President William Ruto and Secretary-General António Guterres lead the groundbreaking for the new UN Assembly Hall in Nairobi.
Caption: Kenya’s President William Ruto and UN Secretary-General António Guterres join senior Government and UN officials during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Assembly Hall at the United Nations complex in Gigiri, Nairobi.
Photo: © UN-Habitat/Mwelu

Kenya and the UN break ground on a new Assembly Hall in Nairobi, marking a major step in UNON’s expansion and Africa’s voice in global diplomacy.

Kenya’s President William Ruto and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres led the groundbreaking ceremony for a new 1,600-seat Assembly Hall at the United Nations complex in Gigiri, Nairobi, marking a major step in the expansion of the United Nations Office at Nairobi as a global centre for multilateral diplomacy.

The ceremony formed part of the Secretary-General’s visit to Kenya, which included a meeting with the UN Country Team, a bilateral meeting with President Ruto, the groundbreaking ceremony, the unveiling of a plaque marking the completion of the first phase of the UNON conference facilities expansion and later engagements linked to the Africa Forward Summit.

Once complete, the expansion will increase UNON’s capacity to host major international meetings and strengthen Nairobi’s position as the only United Nations Secretariat headquarters in the Global South. But the day’s message went beyond buildings. It placed Nairobi within a wider conversation on Africa’s role in multilateral decision-making, development financing and reform of global governance.

President William Ruto delivers remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new UN Assembly Hall.
Caption: Kenya’s President William Ruto delivers remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Assembly Hall at the United Nations complex in Gigiri. His remarks linked the expansion of UNON to Nairobi’s growing role as a centre for diplomacy and to Africa’s wider call for investment, stronger representation and a fairer place in global decision-making.
Photo: © UN-Habitat/Mwelu
Secretary-General António Guterres delivers remarks during the UNON expansion ceremony in Nairobi.
Caption: UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivers remarks during the ceremony marking the UNON conference facilities expansion and the groundbreaking of the new Assembly Hall. He used the occasion to underline the importance of a more representative multilateral system and the need to reform the global structures that shape development financing and governance.
Photo: © UN-Habitat/Mwelu
President William Ruto and Secretary-General António Guterres unveil a plaque marking the first phase of the UNON expansion.
Caption: Kenya’s President William Ruto and UN Secretary-General António Guterres unveil a plaque marking the completion of the first phase of the UNON conference facilities expansion. The moment recognised a major milestone in the partnership between Kenya and the United Nations, and in Nairobi’s growth as the only UN Secretariat headquarters in the Global South.
Photo: © UN-Habitat/Mwelu
President William Ruto, Secretary-General António Guterres, Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed and senior UN officials mark the UNON expansion milestone.
Caption: President William Ruto, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed and senior UN officials mark the completion of the first phase of the UNON conference facilities expansion. The milestone forms part of a larger investment that will increase UNON’s capacity to host major intergovernmental meetings and global conferences.
Photo: © UN-Habitat/Mwelu
Dr Garry Conille, Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed and Secretary-General António Guterres engage during the UN Country Team meeting.
Caption: UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya Dr Garry Conille, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed and UN Secretary-General António Guterres engage during the Secretary-General’s meeting with the UN Country Team in Nairobi. The discussion focused on the UN’s presence in Kenya, delivery under the Cooperation Framework, UN reform and the next phase of support to Kenya’s national development priorities.
Photo: © UN RCO/Abel Ludeki
The Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General, Resident Coordinator and UN Country Team gather during the Secretary-General’s visit to Nairobi.
Caption: UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, UN Resident Coordinator Dr Garry Conille and members of the UN Country Team gather during the Secretary-General’s visit to Nairobi. The meeting offered an opportunity to reflect on how the UN system can support Kenya’s leadership in sustainable development, regional cooperation and global reform
Photo: © UN-Habitat/Mwelu
President William Ruto greets UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach during the Secretary-General’s visit to UNON.
Caption: President William Ruto greets UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach during the Secretary-General’s visit to the United Nations complex in Gigiri, Nairobi. The visit brought together Government and UN leaders around the expansion of UNON and Nairobi’s growing role as a centre for global diplomacy.
Photo: © UN-Habitat/Mwelu
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen, Dr Ida Odinga and Hon. Susan Nakhumicha attend the UNON groundbreaking ceremony in Nairobi.
Caption: UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen, Dr Ida Odinga, Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme and Hon. Susan Nakhumicha, Kenya’s Permanent Representative to UN-Habitat, attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Assembly Hall at the United Nations complex in Gigiri, Nairobi. The ceremony brought together senior Government and UN leaders as Nairobi marked a major step in the expansion of UNON’s conference facilities.
Photo: © UN-Habitat/Mwelu
H.E. Dr Musalia Mudavadi delivers remarks during the UNON groundbreaking ceremony in Nairobi.
Caption: Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs H.E. Dr Musalia Mudavadi delivers remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Assembly Hall at the United Nations complex in Gigiri, Nairobi. The ceremony marked a major milestone in the expansion of UNON’s conference facilities and Nairobi’s role as a global centre for multilateral diplomac
Photo: © UN-Habitat/Mwelu
UNON Director-General Zainab Hawa Bangura delivers welcome remarks during the UNON groundbreaking ceremony in Nairobi.
Caption: UNON Director-General Zainab Hawa Bangura delivers welcome remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Assembly Hall at the United Nations complex in Gigiri, Nairobi. The ceremony marked a major step in the expansion of UNON’s conference facilities and brought together senior Government officials, UN leaders and diplomatic representatives.
Photo: © UN-Habitat/Mwelu
H.E. William Alexander McDonald delivers remarks during the UNON groundbreaking ceremony in Nairobi.
Caption: H.E. William Alexander McDonald, High Commissioner of Barbados to Kenya and Chair of the Advisory Board, delivers remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Assembly Hall at the United Nations complex in Gigiri, Nairobi. The ceremony marked a key step in the expansion of UNON’s conference facilities and brought together senior Government officials, UN leaders and diplomatic representatives.
Photo: © UN-Habitat/Mwelu
H.E. Beyene Russom engages with a representative during the UNON groundbreaking ceremony in Nairobi.
Caption: H.E. Beyene Russom, Ambassador of Eritrea to Kenya, engages with a representative during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Assembly Hall at the United Nations complex in Gigiri, Nairobi. The ceremony brought together senior Government officials, UN leaders and members of the diplomatic community in support of UNON’s conference facilities expansion.
Photo: © UN-Habitat/Mwelu
Sandra Macharia speaks during the UNON groundbreaking ceremony in Nairobi.
Caption: Sandra Macharia, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Nairobi, speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Assembly Hall at the United Nations complex in Gigiri, Nairobi. The ceremony brought together Government officials, UN leaders and diplomatic representatives to mark a major step in the expansion of UNON’s conference facilities.
Photo: © UN-Habitat/Mwelu
Secretary-General António Guterres and Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed with UNDSS colleagues during the visit to UNON.
Caption: UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed join UNDSS colleagues during the Secretary-General’s visit to the United Nations complex in Gigiri, Nairobi. UNDSS plays a key role in supporting the safety and security of UN personnel, enabling them to carry out their operations and mandates.
Photo: © UN-Habitat/Mwelu

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