Kenya's candidature for a Non-Permanent seat on the UNSC: An assessment of contributions, priorities and challenges

The United Nations Security Council has a total of fifteen members, five of those members are permanent members that include; the United States, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and China. The remaining ten members are non-permanent members elected for two year terms by the General Assembly. Kenya has been a non-permanent member before, in 1973–1974 and 1997–1998. On both occasions, its focus was on peaceful resolution of conflicts and it campaigned for the self-determination of countries seeking independence. The political and development landscape has changed in Africa so far. Kenya has so far contributed to the Somalia and South Sudan peace process backing international peace and stability in the Eastern Africa region. Kenya also takes pride in the consistent contribution of troops to peace keeping missions globally, from the second Gulf war to the current African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Kenya cites experience with regard to maintenance and stability of regional peace. The non-permanent members of the Security Council are elected on their ability to make contributions to the United Nations for the maintenance or restoration of international peace and security.