United Nations Day: Majority of Kenyans feel UN should be involved in country’s politics.
By Mabonga Makhanu, October 24, 2025As plans by the United Nations (UN) to transfer the global headquarters of three of its major agencies to Nairobi, Kenya, progress, a majority of Kenyans believe that the UN, which has had a great impact across many countries, should also be involved in Kenya’s local politics, elections, policy, and dispute resolution.
According to a survey released on Friday, October 24, 2025, by Stahili Pulse Report ahead of the planned relocation of its offices to Nairobi, expected to take effect by the end of 2026, 55.2 per cent of Kenyans want the UN to be involved in Kenyan politics, especially in moments that require stability.
Another 35 per cent of respondents said the UN should only offer advice but not interfere, while 9.8 per cent said they do not want the UN involved in Kenya’s local or national politics at all.
These Stahili Pulse Report findings reflect Kenya’s long history of turning to the international community for oversight during election periods.
Before and after elections, Kenyans, particularly those dissatisfied with the results or suspecting electoral malpractice, have often called upon the UN and other international bodies to intervene or monitor the process to ensure fairness and transparency.
Relocation of UN offices
Now, with the UN preparing to establish the headquarters of three of its major agencies in Kenya, many citizens feel that the organisation should play a more active role or at least keep a watchful eye on how elections are conducted.
The survey results are not surprising, given Kenya’s tendency to seek international attention during times of political tension.
When politicians make divisive or inflammatory statements that could incite ethnic conflict, or when accusations of vote manipulation arise, Kenyans have historically looked to the international community for intervention and accountability.
Past role played by the UN
The UN has previously played a major role in stabilising the country during moments of crisis. After the 2007–2008 post-election violence, the UN, through former Secretary-General Kofi Annan, helped broker peace between the late President Mwai Kibaki and the late Prime Minister Raila Odinga, restoring order to a country on the brink of collapse.
Those accused of orchestrating the violence were later prosecuted at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The United Nations is set to relocate three of its key agencies, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), from Geneva and New York to Nairobi, Kenya, by the end of 2026.
This move is part of the UN@80 Reform Agenda, which aims to decentralise the organisation’s operations and shift more influence from high-cost Western hubs to emerging centres in the Global South.
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