This archive report was first published on 30 October 2019.
Kenya is set to launch its bid for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council (UNSC) on November 7, with President Uhuru Kenyatta announcing the move in a speech to the 18th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Baku, Azerbaijan, on October 26, 2019.
According to the President, Foreign Affairs CS Monica Juma will officially launch Kenya's candidature for the UNSC non-permanent seat on November 7 in New York City.
The President urged NAM member states to support Kenya's bid, noting that it would be one of the ways of endorsing the consensus and ruled-based decision by the African Union (AU), which endorsed Kenya for the seat in August after it defeated Djibouti with 37 votes against 13.
However, Djibouti has since rescinded its earlier decision to respect the AU's vote and announced that it will continue to vie for the non-permanent seat by taking the campaign directly to the UN member states.
“Djibouti reaffirms its decision to continue its bid to secure a seat at the Security Council for the period 2021-2022. We thank all UN member states that have formally expressed to support Djibouti,” Djibouti's Permanent Representative to the UN Mohamed Siad Doualeh said.
President Kenyatta also highlighted Kenya's unique pedigree and experience that will add value to the Security Council in its efforts to address contemporary threats to the world, while also offering an opportunity to help pursue UN reforms to secure greater space for the global south.
