Gigiri UN Complex Set for Sh45bn Iconic Makeover

Nairobi is poised for a historic transformation as the United Nations establishes three global offices, boosting the city’s international profile and high-end property market.

Knight Frank predicts that incoming UN staff from UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund, and UN Women will drive demand for premium housing, pushing property prices higher.

“The upcoming establishment of three additional UN headquarters in Nairobi by late 2026 presents a significant demand catalyst, with expectations of a significant number of new expatriates requiring premium housing,” the company notes in its Kenyan Market Update report.

As the site of the UN’s sole headquarters in Africa—and the only one outside New York—Nairobi, through the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) in Gigiri, coordinates operations across the continent and the Global South.

To accommodate the growing international presence, UNON is undergoing redevelopment under the Gigiri Master Plan (GMP). 

The Sh45 billion project, approved by the UN General Assembly in December 2023, includes the refurbishment of office blocks A to J and the construction of six new buildings.

It will also upgrade conference facilities to accommodate 9,000 delegates—up from 2,000—by adding 16 meeting rooms and a new Assembly Hall with a capacity of 1,600, at a cost of Sh35 billion.

The expansion goes hand in hand with the UN’s commitment to sustainability. The ‘greening UNON’ initiative aims to deliver energy-efficient, environmentally friendly infrastructure tailored to Nairobi’s climate, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

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“UNON is currently undergoing a historic transformation that will not only accelerate our path to energy neutrality but also promote biodiversity, thanks to the complex-wide reforestation initiative launched by the Secretary-General exactly one year ago,” said Zainab Hawa Bangura, Director-General of UNON.

Currently, some 6,000 UN staff are based in Kenya, with 5,000 at Gigiri managing operations across Somalia, Sudan, and peacekeeping missions throughout the region. 

The new offices will further cement Nairobi as a global hub, drawing international talent and investment, while transforming the city’s skyline and property market.

Construction is due to begin in late 2025, with major works unfolding through 2026 and completion targeted for 2030 — a project set to redefine Nairobi’s role as a global hub.

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