UN Official Hails Kenya as One of World’s Most Attractive Development Partner
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Kenya has received a huge public vote of confidence from the United Nations’ highest official on the ground.
In a recent Awake at Night interview with the UN Resident Coordinator and former Prime Minister of Haiti, Garry Conille, he described Kenya as one of the most attractive places in the world to work on development. He said it is a country that is moving forward, innovating, and offering real partnership, not charity.
According to Conille, Kenya is “the soft spot” as it is a lower-middle-income country still at a transformative stage, with a government that is “really looking forward and moving forward.”
The UN official said he cannot think of anywhere else he would rather be at this point in his career.
What the UN official actually said about Kenya
Conille said the UN is “really well loved” here as about 13,000 UN staff and family members live and work in Kenya.
He said Kenya’s refugee policy, especially the Shirika integration programme, treats refugees well. Instead of treating them as a burden, adding that Kenya has chosen a path of integration.
The UN official said that Local governments in some of the country’s poorest and most climate-stressed areas have embraced communities that arrived with almost nothing.
“These are people sharing the little they have with brothers that are in need,” he said. That, he added, is something the world should learn from.
He also pointed to Kenya’s record on innovation. Kenya did not import mobile money, he said. It invented a system that now reaches almost 80 percent of Kenyans.
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Conille described the country as a place where technology, skilled people, and a strong private sector come together.
In addition, the former PM of Haiti said Banks and major enterprises are moving to Nairobi because of the opportunity brought by Kenya’s stability.
Furthermore, Conille said Kenya has welcomed the UN, and it is investing heavily so that Nairobi can function as a global diplomatic hub, including close to $1.5 billion in infrastructure to support the UN family.
He said Kenya is becoming a meeting point for diplomacy, including by hosting major international forums.
Why this matters
Kenya is often discussed only in terms of its challenges, including youth unemployment, climate shocks and the upcoming 2027 election.
Also Read: Kenya, France Sign Ksh 12.5 Billion Deal to Expand & Modernise Nairobi Commuter Rail System
He named youth unemployment as one of the biggest development and security issues the country faces.
However, he refused to let the problems drown out the story of progress. Conille said when people hear “Africa,” they think of crisis, as they do not hear enough about the progress Kenya has made.
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President William Ruto (R) gestures during his arrival to a joint press conference with former Prime Minister of Haiti Garry Conille (L) at the State House in Nairobi on October 11, 2024. Photo/ Courtesy