Kenya has backed United Arab Emirates diplomat Lana Nusseibeh’s candidature for United Nations Secretary-General.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi announced Kenya’s position on Monday, citing Nusseibeh’s extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy and service within the UN system.
Mudavadi said her experience would serve the organisation well, expressing Kenya’s readiness to work with her to strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and Africa.
“Kenya looks forward to working with her to strengthen the partnership with the United Nations and Africa,” Mudavadi said.
Nusseibeh, who was formally nominated by the UAE on October 21, is entering a crowded race in which no candidate has yet secured sufficient support to overcome opposition from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Her candidature comes as the selection process faces uncertainty, with the leading contenders struggling to secure the broad backing required to emerge as a consensus candidate.
SEVEN CANDIDATES IN THE RACE
The official field includes Nusseibeh, Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan, Argentina’s Rafael Mariano Grossi, Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, Ecuadorian diplomat María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, Uganda’s Olara Otunnu and Ivonne A-Baki, nominated by Tonga.
The race has already seen withdrawals.
Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet’s nomination was withdrawn in September, while former Senegalese President Macky Sall’s candidature was withdrawn by Burundi on October 20.
Nusseibeh’s entry adds another contender to a process in which diplomatic experience, regional representation and the positions of major powers will shape the eventual outcome.
The UAE diplomat previously served as her country’s ambassador to the UN for more than a decade and currently serves as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
GRYNSPAN LEADS LATEST VOTE
The latest Security Council straw poll on October 16 placed Grynspan at the top with nine votes encouraging her candidature, five discouraging votes and one member expressing no opinion.
Grossi and Rodrigues Birkett each received eight encouraging votes and six discouraging votes, with one member expressing no opinion in Rodrigues Birkett’s case.
The poll also revealed substantial resistance to other contenders. Espinosa received three encouraging votes and nine discouraging votes, while Otunnu secured four encouraging votes against 10 discouraging votes.
A-Baki received one encouraging vote and 14 discouraging votes.
The results, compiled from reports of the confidential ballot, showed that none of the candidates had secured unqualified backing from the five permanent Security Council members — the UK, China, France, Russia and the US.
Grynspan’s nine encouraging votes put her at the numerical threshold required in a formal Security Council vote, but she still faces opposition from permanent members with veto powers. Grossi and Rodrigues Birkett also face opposition from permanent members.
The straw polls are informal assessments rather than formal votes, and members can change their positions in subsequent rounds. Nevertheless, the results underline the difficulty candidates face in assembling the support needed for the Council to recommend a nominee to the General Assembly.
Under the UN Charter, the Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. A recommendation requires at least nine affirmative votes in the 15-member Council and no veto from any of its five permanent members.
Nusseibeh was not among the candidates in the October 16 poll, meaning her standing among Council members has yet to be established through a comparable voting round.
KENYA-UAE DIPLOMATIC TIES
Kenya’s endorsement comes against the backdrop of its growing diplomatic engagement with the UAE.
On October 23, President William Ruto met Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, the UAE Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at State House, Nairobi.
Ruto said the two countries enjoyed warm diplomatic relations anchored on shared aspirations.
He added that Kenya would seek to deepen ties to expand trade and investment.
The endorsement now adds a multilateral dimension to the relationship as the UAE seeks support for its candidate to lead the global organisation.
The Council must recommend a candidate before the General Assembly can make the final appointment, with the new Secretary-General due to take office on January 1, 2027.
The new UN chief will succeed António Guterres whose second term ends on December 31.
