Why More UN Agencies Are Choosing Nairobi Over New York

Kenya’s global stature is rising fast as more international organisations choose Nairobi as their base of operations.
By next year, Kenyans will increasingly rub shoulders with expatriates and United Nations staff as the agency establishes three new global offices in Nairobi.
The expansion will see the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and UN Women headquartered in Kenya.
These additions will join UNEP and UN-Habitat in Gigiri, making Nairobi one of only four cities worldwide, alongside New York, Geneva and Vienna, to host multiple UN headquarters.
The UN is not alone. The World Food Programme (WFP) recently shut down its Southern Africa office in Johannesburg and consolidated operations by moving its East and Southern Africa hub to Nairobi.
The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) also opened a Nairobi office in February 2024, providing social services to refugee communities in East Africa, including education and health support.
This wave of global institutions brings jobs, foreign exchange, and new opportunities for Kenyans across multiple sectors.
While Kenya has long been attractive to international players, President William Ruto’s heavy investment in ICT has accelerated this growth.
Under his watch, the country is turning into the “Silicon Savannah”, drawing tech giants like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and Google. He has also donated land for the UN’s Ksh38.8 billion expansion in Nairobi.
To ensure smooth operations, the government has introduced policies that grant international staff diplomatic privileges, tax exemptions, and legal protections. A 2025 Order gave the Global Centre for Adaptation immunity from lawsuits and taxes, while a 2024 Legal Notice extended similar benefits to the Gates Foundation.
Both measures fall under the Privileges and Immunities Act (Cap. 179), which allows the government to grant such privileges on a case-by-case basis, strengthening Kenya’s status as a trusted host.
Kenya’s relative stability, compared to its neighbours in the Horn of Africa, remains another draw for international bodies. Despite domestic tensions, the country is viewed as a secure anchor in a turbulent region.
Nairobi also offers advanced office facilities, fibre-optic internet, world-class hotels, and conference centres, with quick connections to African capitals, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Wilson Airport.