This archive report was first published on 21 August 2019.
On August 5, 2019, Kenya fell short of the two-thirds threshold in the first round of voting by the Permanent Representatives Committee, securing 33 out of 49 ballots cast by members present.
However, in a second round of voting, Kenya secured the endorsement of the African Union, garnering 37 votes against Djibouti's 13.
The endorsement comes as the African Union prepares to present Kenya to the United Nations Security Council for elections to be held in New York in June 2020.
Kenya is set to serve a two-year term from 2021 to 2022, joining Niger (Western) and Tunisia (Northern) who were elected in 2019 to serve in 2020-2021.
The United Nations Security Council is the UN's most powerful organ, with five permanent members - United Kingdom, United States, China, Russia, and France.
Kenya has previously served twice at the council in 1973 and 1997, and this endorsement presents an opportunity for the country to build consensus across regional and global matters affecting Africa.
