UN staff to oppose new city status

UN staff opposed to the elevation of Nairobi to a higher status have scheduled a meeting next week to push for the reversal of the decision.

Workers who did not wish to be named for fear of reprisals said they would use next Thursday’s monthly staff meeting to lobby for the reclassification of the city back to what it used to be.

Nairobi hosts UN Habitat and United Nations Environmental Programme headquarters.

Allowances

The elevation of Nairobi from Category C to B by the International Civil Service Commission, the body that handles all employment issues for the UN, took effect on January 1.

In justifying the move, ICSC argued that living conditions in the city had improved tremendously, a view that was supported by the government.

However, staff who spoke to the Nation deny the claim that the city standards have improved. They also opposed the move as it would mean a reduction of their hardship allowances.