In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about the United Nations Office Nairobi tour. The United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) is located in the Gigiri area of Nairobi and serves as the UN headquarters in Africa. The complex comprises ‘green’ buildings that use solar energy and natural light instead of artificial lighting. It is also the administrative centre of two main UN agencies: the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). Kenya is the only developing country in the southern hemisphere to host UN headquarters.
The UN Headquarters is now open to the public for in-person guided tours. This means anyone can visit the United Nations Headquarters and learn about the amazing work it does. The UN Office tour has been taking place since January 2012, when it was introduced at the United Nations Office in Nairobi. However, the tour has been available at the main headquarters in New York and the other two regional headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland and Vienna, Austria.
The one-hour walking tours through the complex are accompanied by knowledgeable tour guides and provide an exciting opportunity to discover the UN Headquarters in Africa. The tour is interactive, enlightening, and educational and can be provided in French, English, Chinese, Kiswahili, or German.
What to expect on the day of the tour
The main objective of the UN tour is to let its visitors know the UN’s history, structure and work.
1. Clearance with the security
After clearing security at the main entrance, your guide will meet you in the waiting area and give you a visitor’s tag labelled “UN Tour.” You’ll be guided around the compound at all times during the tour.
Note: Once you submit your details, they’ll be sent to the security desk at the main gate for access to the compound. Without official identification, access to the premises is not allowed. Visitors’ parking is on a first-come, first-served basis.
2. Walk of fame through the colourful flags
From the clearance office, you’ll walk through the 193 member states of the UN. The pedestrian walkway has all the flags of the member states hoisted in alphabetical order.
3. A brief at the Visitor’s office
You’ll be taken to the visitor’s office for a briefing and to learn about the house rules. You’ll also receive walkie-talkies and earphones for ease of communication.
The tour starts at the iconic KaribUNi sign, which welcomes anyone and everyone keen to understand what the UN does and learn more about UNON, which promotes international peace and sustainable development. You’ll learn valuable information about the UN, UNON, and Kenya as a member state during the trip.
Some important details to keep in mind:
- The UN is headed by a Secretary General appointed by the General Assembly. The current Secretary-General is António Guterres.
- Kenya is one of the UN’s member states, along with 192 other countries. It joined the UN in December 1963.
- In Nairobi, the UNON is headed by a Director General. The current DG is Hanna S. Tetteh of Ghana.
- The UN’s official languages are Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish, with English and French as the working languages.
- The UN emblem has an olive branch symbolising peace and a world map to represent the organization’s concern with achieving its main purpose.
- The Nairobi Office is home to the headquarters of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat), as well as twenty-four other UN agencies and programs.
- The headquarters sit on a 140-acre parcel of land donated by the first president of Kenya, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, and the second president, Daniel Arap Moi.
Things not to Miss during the tour
1. Building for the future
This is an innovative, sustainable green office facility that will house the UNEP and UN-Habitat headquarters. The four buildings, linked by airy walkways and flooded with natural light, can accommodate 1,200 staff. It has 6,000 square metres of solar panels, energy-saving lighting, natural ventilation systems, and other green features. The building generates as much electricity as possible for its 1,200 occupants.
2. The Memorial Garden
This garden commemorates the victims of the 1998 bombing of the US Embassy in Nairobi and Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. Currently, organic tea and coffee are grown in the gardens and processed for sale at the UN Gift Shop.
3. The green UN compound
This environmentally friendly compound has a variety of indigenous trees, plant species, and a sizeable population of wildlife. You’ll learn about the various arts and gifts given to the UNON by its member states and their significance towards environmental conservation. Check out the state-of-the-art conference rooms and facilities where global agreements have been signed and international events are held.
4. VIP tree planting section
Out of all the trees in the area, the only two that failed to grow were planted by Africans. You’ll learn more about this section during the tour.
United Nations Office Nairobi Tour Fees
The charges are Ksh 500 for Kenyan adults, Ksh 400 for Kenyan students above 18 years and Ksh 300 for Kenyan students below 18 years. See the table below for more details on charges for residents, non-residents and special tour rates.
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