This archive report was first published on 10 July 2020.
On Thursday, President Uhuru Kenyatta threw his weight behind Amina Mohamed's bid to lead the World Trade Organisation (WTO), describing her as a uniquely qualified person for the role.
Speaking in Nairobi, President Kenyatta said that Ms Mohamed understands the WTO and its processes, having chaired all its high-level decision-making bodies, including the Ministerial Conference, General Council, Dispute Settlement Body, and the Trade Policy Review Body.
Ms Mohamed, a veteran diplomat who has served as Foreign Cabinet Secretary and Education Minister, is one of three latest entrants in the race to become the next director-general of the WTO. She is currently the Sports Cabinet Secretary and will be competing with seven other candidates, including two from the Africa bloc, to secure the seat.
Ms Mohamed had previously contested the seat in 2013 but lost out on a decision made by consensus among member states to appoint Brazilian Robert Azevêdo, whose term ends next month. The Director-General of the WTO is appointed through consensus, meaning candidates will have to engage in horse-trading ahead of the decision on August 31.
The WTO is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and decisions on cases brought before it are often final, even though it is not a UN agency. If selected, Ms Mohamed would be the first African and the first woman to serve as the Director-General of the WTO.
