Nairobi, 27th February 2025 – In a significant step toward fostering collaboration on sustainable urban development, the Permanent Representative, Ambassador Grace Okara, paid a courtesy visit to His Excellency James Njoroge Muchiri, Deputy Governor of Nairobi City County, at the County Hall in Nairobi. The discussion focused on sustainable urbanization, a key area of the Mission’s mandate.
The deputy governor was briefed on the upcoming resumed second session of the UN-Habitat Assembly scheduled for 29th-30th May 2025 in Nairobi. This global gathering serves as a platform for policymakers, urban planners, and stakeholders to deliberate on pressing urban challenges and develop actionable strategies to enhance livability in cities worldwide. The engagement between Ambassador Okara and Deputy Governor Muchiri underscored the need for Nairobi to play an integral role in these global conversations, given its status as a rapidly expanding metropolis and a hub for international organizations, including the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and UNEP.
On the other hand, the County Government team shared valuable insights into their ongoing initiatives aimed at achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11), which calls for making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. The county’s efforts span various critical areas, including improved housing, enhanced public transport systems, waste management strategies, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Ambassador Okara, acknowledged the County Government’s strides in urban sustainability and expressed optimism that Nairobi’s initiatives could serve as a model for other cities within the region and thus needed to be showcased. She emphasized the importance of continued dialogue and international collaboration in addressing urban challenges.
