Venue of the meeting

The meeting of the Open-ended Working Group will be held at the following venue:

United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON)

United Nations Environment Programme Headquarters (UNEP)

United Nations Avenue

Gigiri,

00200 Nairobi, Kenya

Tel.: +254 20 7621234

Access to the UN Gigiri Complex is via UN Avenue. Pedestrian access is through the Pavilion north of the main vehicle access. More information about the UNON complex is available on the following UNON website: http://www.unon.org/.

Health Information

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for travelers coming from countries where yellow fever may occur. Immunization against yellow fever is recommended for travelers from other countries. Malaria risk exists throughout the year in Kenya; though there is a little risk in Nairobi and the highlands therefore, it is advised that you take precautions while travelling out of these areas. The United Nations does not cover life or medical insurance for participants. Therefore, it is your responsibility or that of your Government to ensure that you obtain adequate insurance prior to your travel to Kenya.

For further advice on vaccinations recommended for visitors to Kenya, please contact your doctor or the UNON Medical Clinic: +254 20 762 2267. The clinic also has an emergency line: +254 20 762 5999.

Accommodation

Please note that participants are responsible for making their own hotel reservations. The Secretariat encourages all participants to make such arrangements at the earliest possible.

A list of recommended hotels and guest houses in Nairobi, indicative rates and information on some complementary services (including transfers from the airport to the hotels) is available on the UNON website (https://dcs.unon.org/; https://dcs.unon.org/sites/default/files/Hotel%20Rates%20-%202015.pdf).

Local transportation and security

Most international visitors will arrive through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is half-an-hour’s drive from the Nairobi city centre, depending on the traffic. Kindly note the unpredictability of the traffic. While there is only 25 km from the airport to the UN compound, the trip can take between 45 to 120 minutes, depending on the time and day.

Many hotels provide courtesy shuttle services to/from airport and in some cases from the hotel to the UN compound. Visitors should pre-advise their hotel of their transportation needs. In the absence of a courtesy bus, participants may use reputable taxi companies. Recommended taxi companies are listed below:

Hilltop: +254 20 272 3218

Jatco: +254 20 444 8162/6096

Jimcab: +254 20 712 2565/712 0344

Kenatco: +254 20 230771/2 or 3166117

Participants are required to make their own travel arrangements to and from the airport!

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) and the Kenyan Authorities are working closely together to ensure that all precautionary measures are taken for delegate’s safety and security. However, participants are personally responsible for their movements. If you intend to stay in a hotel, it is recommended to choose accommodation from the list of hotels available on the UNON website (please refer to section I, paragraph 16).

For your own safety, kindly read and follow the below listed tips:

  • Avoid crowded areas such as malls;
  • When walking, keep to the main roads and avoid shortcuts down back alleys and the like. However, where possible, take a taxi rather than walking;
  • Never walk at night in the city center even for a short distance - always take a taxi;
  • Be wary of people loitering outside hotels;
  • Ignore street children and people coming up to you in the streets with hard-luck tales.
  • Do not carry large sum of money. Avoid wearing expensive jewellery, watches or the like when walking in the street;
  • Always carry some form of identification, and the address and phone number of your hotel.
  • Ask the concierge at your hotel to recommend places where you can go out to walk, jog or shop.
  • We suggest that you use the taxi service offered by the hotel to go to restaurants to eat out at night.

Emergency numbers:

UNON Security: +254 20 762 66 66

Kenyan Police: +254 999 or +254 20 272 42 01

Diplomatic Police: +254 726 28 30 30 or +254 735 35 65 06

Nairobi Hospital: +254 20 284 50 00

Aga Khan Hospital: +254 20 366 20 00

 

Electricity

Participants are kindly requested to bring their own power adaptors.

240 Volts, British Standard AC plug (BS 1363).

 

Currency

The official currency of the Republic of Kenya is the Kenyan Shilling (KES). Foreign currency can be changed at JKIA, banks, foreign currency Exchange Bureaus or hotels. Banks in major centers are open from 09:00 to 15:00hrs Monday to Friday and from 09:00 to 12:00hrs on the first and last Saturday of each month. Exchange places are available near or at the UN compound in Nairobi. Major international credit cards are accepted in most hotels and restaurants in Nairobi.