Kenya Lobbies for US Support for Slot in United Nations Security Council

Kenya has announced it will be fronting its candidature for a slot in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) at the 74th session of the UN General Assembly to be held in September 2019.

The revelation came as United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited the country on Friday for bilateral talks with President Kenyatta. Kenya will use Tillerson’s visit to sell her candidature ahead of the vote during UNGA meeting to be held in New York.

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma said Kenya’s candidature is informed by the critical role the UN Security Council play in global peace and stability.

“We shall be seeking for a seat in the United Nations Security Council for the period of 2021-2022,” she said.

“Kenya’s candidature to the United Nations Security Council is informed by the critical role that we continue to play in maintaining global peace and stability,” Ambassador Juma said

“As a country we believe that peace, security and development are interlinked and mutually reinforcing, and neither can be achieved without the other,” Ambassador Juma said.

“Even as we go through the candidature process, we look forward to cooperating with all countries for more robust engagement on issues of peace and stability and where Africa’s and developing countries sustainable development is realised,” added Juma.

UNSC has five permanent members and ten non-permanent membership slots. Ethiopia currently holds one of the non-permanent positions, while Ivory Coast non-permanent membership starts in 2019.

China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and the United States form the five permanent members with veto powers.

Kenya has twice been a non-permanent member of the council in the years 1973-1974 and 1997-1998.