Nairobi, 23 April 2026 – The First Session of the UN‑Habitat Executive Board 2026 was convened on 21–22 April at the United Nations Complex in Gigiri, Nairobi. As host country, Kenya warmly welcomed Member States to deliberate on critical priorities shaping the future of sustainable urbanization.
In opening remarks delivered on her behalf by Mr. Cassius Gusenya, Hon. Alice Wahome, EGH, Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing & Urban Development, commended the Executive Director, Ms. Anacláudia Rossbach, for her steadfast leadership in advancing UN‑Habitat’s agenda with transparency, accountability, and results‑based management. The Cabinet Secretary reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to providing leadership in the global discourse on sustainable housing and urban development, citing the successful hosting of the Second Africa Urban Forum in Nairobi and the implementation of the Government’s ambitious Affordable Housing Programme—flagship under the Bottom‑Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). FULL STATEMENT
H.E. Amb. Nakhumicha Wafula, E.G.H., Kenya’s Permanent Representative to UN‑Habitat, in her capacity as Chair of the Programme, Budgetary and Administrative Matters (PBA) of the Executive Board, presented the PBA report. Under Kenya’s chairmanship, five working group meetings were convened and steered, guiding critical financial oversight discussions. These included highlighting concerns over UN‑Habitat’s funding deficit and advancing the development of a robust resource mobilization strategy. The sessions also reviewed the draft 2027 work programme and budget, oversaw progress on the Strategic Plan 2026–2029, facilitated assessment of UN‑Habitat Assembly resolutions, promoted engagement on normative and operational work, and supported preparations for major global meetings including the World Urban Forum (WUF13) and the UN General Assembly high‑level meeting on the New Urban Agenda. FULL STATEMENT
Over the two‑day session, Member States engaged in constructive and forward‑looking deliberations on key priorities for sustainable urban development. The meeting concluded with the adoption of important decisions on the organization’s financial status, programme implementation, governance, and follow‑up actions from previous sessions. These outcomes reaffirmed Member States’ collective commitment to strengthening transparency, accountability, and impactful delivery of UN‑Habitat’s global mandate.
