This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
On June 18, 2020, Kenya's bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) fell short, with the country garnering 113 votes in the first round of voting.
Kenya's candidature was endorsed by the African Union, which recognized the country's contributions to the peacekeeping mission in war-torn Somalia.
However, Kenya failed to meet the required threshold of two-thirds of the votes, which stood at 128.
President Uhuru Kenyatta had made a last-ditch effort to persuade the envoys to consider Kenya for the spot, highlighting the country's gains in the region.
During a virtual campaign meeting with permanent representatives of various countries to the United Nations, Kenyatta emphasized the importance of Kenya's bid, saying, "A vote for Kenya is a vote for peace. A vote for Kenya is a vote for global solidarity. A vote for Kenya is a vote for multilateralism."
