11 Jun 2020

Kenya is seeking votes for candidacy of the non-permanent seat of the United Nations Security Council for 2021-2022. A press release from the Kenyan Embassy in Botswana states that Kenya is the African Union endorsed candidate for the seat. Elections will be held on June 17 this year.

The release says Kenya has an exemplary and enviable record at the multilateral context and also at the regional level having  established meaningful relations and partnerships with countries that are part of major inter-governmental negotiations including the P5 (Permanent Members of the Security Council: China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and the United States), the A3 (African Non-Permanent Security Council Members, currently Niger, South Africa and Tunisia), G77 & China, the African Group, Asia-Pacific States, Eastern European States, Western European and others States (WEOG), Latin American and Caribbean States, the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), the Pacific and Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) and BRICS, (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

It also states that Kenya aspires for a United Nations (UN) rooted at the centre of a rules based international system and promises to bring its wealth of experience in preventive diplomacy, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and post conflict reconstruction to the UNSC.

“A UN where all states exercise all rights due to them equally as enshrined in the charter of the global body. Kenya will work with the entire UN membership in executing the mandate of the UNSC in an inclusive, responsive and consultative manner irrespective of size and military might,” states the release.

Furthermore, it says since admission to the UN, Kenya’s commitment to the principles and ideals of the UN has been resolute and consistent, particularly on matters of peace and security, sustainable development, global environmental and climate change issues. Kenya believes strongly that sustainable development, which is humanity’s aspiration, can only be achieved when there is peace and security for all.

Similarly, peace and security will be at risk in any situation where development is not inclusive, gender balanced and sustainable. Again, the release says Kenya’s location along the coast of the Indian Ocean, makes it the Eastern gateway to Africa, and has strong links with East Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes region, Southern African regions of the continent and across the Indian Ocean with India and other Asian countries. Ends