Journalist Charles Onyango-Obbo has criticized the United Nations Complex in Gigiri, Nairobi, describing his exit experience as “frustrating” and reminiscent of a restrictive system.
Onyango-Obbo, attending a conference at the facility, said entering took just 10 minutes, but leaving dragged on for nearly one-and-a-half hours—almost the same length as the conference itself.
He blamed the delays on slow retrieval of IDs and passports and narrow exit points that caused major congestion.
“After nearly 30 years, you’d imagine they’d have figured this out,” Onyango-Obbo said. He added that the complex seems structured to favor a select few while the majority merely observes from outside, likening it to a system of segregation.
The journalist admitted he initially hesitated to share the experience but said it “cried too loudly to keep quiet.”
His comments highlight challenges faced by journalists, diplomats, and attendees at one of East Africa’s major international institutions.
Onyango-Obbo’s critique shows the need for the UN in Nairobi to review its visitor management and operational procedures.
While the complex hosts critical diplomatic and humanitarian events, cumbersome entry and exit processes risk overshadowing its work.