Kenya will launch the campaign for its candidacy for a
non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council (UNSC) on November 7
President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced.
The launch will be done in New York City and will be presided over by the Foreign Affairs CS Monica Juma.
The
President made the revelations in a speech to the 18th Summit of Heads
of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Baku,
Azerbaijan, on Saturday.
“Following
Kenya’s endorsement by the African Union, my Foreign Minister Monica
Juma will officially launch Kenya’s candidature for the UNSC
non-permanent seat on November 7,” the President said in a speech read
on his behalf by CAS Ababu Namwamba.
The
President urged NAM member states to support Kenya’s bid noting that
that would be one of way of endorsing the consensus and ruled based
decision by the AU.
In August, the AU endorsed Kenya for the seat after it defeated Djibouti with 37 votes against 13.
However, after initially conceding defeat the
Horn of Africa country turned rescinded its earlier decision to respect
the AU’s vote endorsing Kenya’s candidature for the UN Security Council
seat.
Djibouti announced 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.
However,
in his address to the delegates in Baku, President Kenyatta urged
member states to the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to support the consensus
and ruled-based decision by the AU that endorsed Kenya.
Traditionally,
the AU has often reached these decisions through consensus but Nairobi
and Djibouti failed to agree on who should step down.
“Kenya
has a 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 opportunity to help pursue UN reforms to
secure greater space for the global south,” President Kenyatta said.
He
said Kenya continues to join to support peace keeping and stabilisation
efforts, a role the President said is a manifestation of Kenya’s
collective duty
The head of state
focused his message in Kenya role in the peace keeping across the world,
reminding the gathering that Kenya is always ready to join peace
efforts to bring relief and to the suffering and distressed.
He
cited the recent peaceful transition in DR Congo, Kenya peace efforts
in Somalia, South Sudan and the Sudan which Kenya has taken a lead role
in pursuit of peace and stability.
Similarly,
Kenya had lent a hand in when Cyclone Idai swept through Mozambique and
cyclone Tornado hit Cuba and Dominican republican as example of Kenya’s
peace efforts around the work.
“We
remain host to the biggest refugee camp in Africa, a challenge for which
we urge greater sharing of responsibility,” the President said.
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