Kenya Chases UN Security Council Seat In Barbados

President Kenyatta is on a mission to try and secure Kenya a United Nations (UN) Security Council seat for the period 2021 to 2022. As part of his efforts he has met with representatives from 18 countries in the past three weeks alone.

This weekend the President met with the Caribbean Head of States under the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECC) and the Caribbean Community (CARRICOM) in Barbados. His meetings follow those with leaders closer to home in the East African Community (EAC), Botswana and Uganda, as well as further afield, from China and Russia to the United States (US). 

Despite the challenges currently facing the Treasury spending on foreign activities by the office of the presidency has totalled Sh190 million in the past nine months alone, several times more than the figures of Sh36.5 million in 2017/18.

The vote on the seat will take place at the UN General Assembly in June 2020. While only five of the 15 seats are permanent, there will be just one seat available for an Africa country at the vote. Djibouti is also pursuing the position. The five permanent members are Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom and the US. 

According to a statement from the Presidential Strategic Communications Unit, "Kenya's candidature is informed by the critical role the UN Security Council plays in the maintenance of international peace and security."

Among the country’s critical international priorities at the moment are the proposed listing of al-Shabaab as a terrorist organisation and the resolution of its ongoing maritime dispute with Somalia.