Kenya has stepped up its push to position Nairobi as a regional centre for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), following high-level talks held in Paris, France.

In a statement shared on X on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said the discussions were part of Kenya’s broader diplomatic effort to raise its profile on the global stage while advancing education, science, culture, and sustainable development across Africa.

The meeting took place at UNESCO headquarters and brought together senior officials from both sides at a time when the UN agency is reviewing its global operations and regional presence.

“Met with the Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO, Prof. Khaled Ahmed El-Enany Ali Ezz, at the Organisation’s headquarters in Paris, France,” Part of Mudavadi’s statement reads.

He then explained what was discussed during the meeting, focusing on Kenya’s ambition to host a key UNESCO office and to attract major global conferences that could place the country at the centre of international policy conversations.

“Our discussions advanced Kenya’s proposal to position Nairobi as a UNESCO Regional Hub for Africa, aligned with ongoing UN80 reforms and efforts to deepen UNESCO’s footprint across the continent. We also welcomed UNESCO’s confirmation of its readiness to work with Kenya and the African Union frameworks toward hosting the World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development in 2026 as a high-impact global gathering,” Musalia Mudavadi wrote.

Mudavadi went on to highlight specific areas of cooperation that Kenya believes can deliver real benefits to ordinary citizens, particularly in science, innovation, and access to vital resources in vulnerable regions.

“We further exchanged on cooperation in science and innovation, including water security initiatives for vulnerable regions such as Turkana, and Kenya’s drive to strengthen African scientific capacity through initiatives like an African beamline at the SESAME synchrotron,” he wrote.

He concluded by placing the talks within Kenya’s long-term national vision and its commitment to multilateral cooperation, stressing that the country remains focused on inclusive growth and shared progress.

“Kenya remains firmly committed to UNESCO’s ideals and objectives, guided by Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, and will continue working with UNESCO and Member States to deliver inclusive, equitable, and transformative development across its mandate,” the statement reads.