NAIROBI, Kenya — The United Nations has dismissed reports claiming it is relocating entire agencies or thousands of staff from other global offices to Nairobi, clarifying that only limited staff movements are underway as part of broader operational adjustments.
Speaking during a media interview on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, the UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya, Dr. Stephen Jackson, said the reports circulating on social media had exaggerated the scale of transfers.
He emphasized that while Nairobi remains an increasingly important hub for multilateral operations, there are no current plans to move complete UN agencies to Kenya.
“I should record our deep gratitude to Kenyans and Kenya for making a home for multilateralism here,” said Dr. Jackson.
“What we’ve seen over the last couple of years is a slow but steady transfer of staff, capacity, and expertise from a number of specialized United Nations agencies to Kenya. But it is not correct to say that any agency right now has decided to move lock, stock, and barrel in its totality to Nairobi. That’s not happening.”
Dr. Jackson clarified that only “hundreds, not thousands” of staff have been deployed to Nairobi in recent years, countering claims of a massive relocation. “It’s not as big or as seismic as social media thinks it is,” he said.
The UN’s regional presence in Nairobi has expanded steadily over the years, hosting key global agencies such as the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat — both headquartered in the Kenyan capital. Nairobi is also home to over 25 other UN offices serving as regional coordination centres for Africa.
Dr. Jackson also addressed speculation about relocating major New York-based agencies such as UNICEF, UNFPA, and UN Women, saying the organizations are merely enhancing their Nairobi capacity but have not decided to shift their headquarters.
“Do I exclude that a decade from now, things might change, that there might be a bigger move? I don’t totally exclude it,” he said. “What I think is happening is that the UN is transforming from being largely an organization of the global north to becoming more globally balanced.”
Kenya has been lobbying for Nairobi’s elevation as a central hub for global diplomacy under the UN reform agenda, which seeks to decentralize operations from high-cost cities such as New York and Geneva.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has publicly backed the idea, saying it would strengthen Africa’s voice in global governance.
“Kenya is working closely with the UN and is committed to making Nairobi a critical hub for UN operations, not only locally but also regionally and globally,” Mudavadi said recently.
Analysts note that while full relocations may not be imminent, Nairobi’s growing role underscores Kenya’s influence in multilateral diplomacy, bolstered by its strategic location, relative stability, and experience in hosting global institutions.
