This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
On Thursday, Kenya secured the last remaining spot on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) after a repeat vote, outshining Djibouti.
The country secured 129 votes out of 191 casted ballots, surpassing the required threshold of 128 votes or two thirds of votes cast, at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta led a lobbying effort to the international community, seeking to secure more votes for the country after being locked out in the first round.
"You know very well that the Sudanese peace process started here in Nairobi, we are a safe pair of hands who try to act as neutral as possible but always encouraging peace, stability and progress," President Kenyatta said in his final pitch to UN member states.
Kenya will now take its place on the 10 available non-permanent seats in the UNSC on January 1, 2021, on a two-year term, joining India, Ireland, Mexico, and Norway, who were elected to the four other rotating posts on Wednesday.
President Uhuru Kenyatta welcomed the resounding victory, terming it a demonstration of the country's growing profile and influence in the community of nations as a steadfast and dependable development partner.
He thanked Kenya's competitor, the Republic of Djibouti, for being a worthwhile opponent and the African Union for endorsing Kenya as the continent's flag bearer in the contest.
Kenya is now expected to enjoy an array of benefits accompanying the seat, including being the link for Africa in advocating for the continent's favourable policies and reforms and creating linkages between the UN and the African Union (AU) on solving regional conflicts and attaining peace.
Kenya last served on the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member between 1997 and 1998.
