NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to reforms aimed at building a stronger, more inclusive United Nations as senior diplomats and officials from the UN General Assembly’s Fifth Committee met in Nairobi to deliberate on governance, financing, and institutional reform.
Speaking during the meeting, Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dr Korir Sing’Oei said the Fifth Committee plays a critical role in safeguarding the UN’s operational effectiveness.
He noted that decisions made by the committee on administrative and budgetary matters directly affect the organisation’s ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, advance development programmes, and sustain peace operations across the world.
“The work of the Fifth Committee directly determines how effectively the United Nations can respond to global challenges,” Sing’Oei said.
The Principal Secretary highlighted the strategic importance of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), the only UN headquarters based in the Global South. He described UNON as both a symbol and an operational anchor of geographical balance within the multilateral system.
Sing’Oei said the Nairobi headquarters has gained heightened relevance amid ongoing global conflicts, humanitarian emergencies, and development pressures affecting developing regions.
Kenya also commended the Fifth Committee for supporting the modernisation of UNON, including the near completion of office blocks A to J. The facilities are designed to be environmentally sustainable, accessible, and capable of expanding Secretariat operations.
However, officials noted that further investments remain necessary, particularly in conference infrastructure, to enable Nairobi to operate on equal footing with other UN headquarters in New York, Geneva, and Vienna.
The Government of Kenya has invested more than US$1 billion in host-country support for UNON. The investment covers infrastructure development, utilities, road access, ICT systems, security, and the newly established United Nations One-Stop Centre.
According to Sing’Oei, the One-Stop Centre consolidates administrative services for UN personnel and diplomats, underscoring Kenya’s commitment to effective multilateral diplomacy.
UNON Director-General Zainab Hawa Bangura welcomed the Fifth Committee delegation, saying the Nairobi office now supports personnel across nearly 100 offices and more than 50 UN entities.
She cited strong cooperation with Kenyan authorities, including expedited visa processing, coordinated security arrangements, and integrated government services within the UN complex.
The delegation was led by Vice Chair of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly Erick Bjork and included representatives from Sweden and other UN member states.
Delegates said the visit would inform future budget discussions and strengthen confidence in Nairobi as a reliable and strategic UN duty station.
The meeting comes amid wider UN reform debates focused on efficiency, decentralisation, and bringing the organisation closer to the communities it serves. Participants said strengthening UNON aligns with these goals and enhances the UN’s credibility in the Global South.
Kenyan and UN officials concluded the engagement by reaffirming their shared commitment to a strong, efficient, and globally representative United Nations, citing Nairobi as a model of effective collaboration between host governments, member states, and the UN Secretariat.
