Kenya on Wednesday bagged a major appointment at the United Nations (UN) after being elected as a member of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UNECOSOC).
UNECOSOC is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, responsible for coordinating the economic, social, and related work of the UN agencies.
Welcoming the decision, President Uhuru Kenyatta revealed that Kenya had garnered 184 votes in favour, out of a total of 187 member States of the UN General Assembly who were present during the voting.
[caption caption="President Uhuru with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres"]
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Kenya will now serve for a three-year term that runs between 1st January 2019 and 2021 where 18 new members are elected every year for the overlapping 3-year term.
During its annual seven-week sessions and general meetings, the forum discusses international economic and social issues and formulates policy recommendations that are pertinent to member states and the United Nations system.
UNECOSOC's membership is based on geographical representation and African states are allocated 14 seats with Kenya gets its first appointment in the council.
Notable advantages of joining UNECOSOC include the opportunity to influence decision-makers at the highest international level by delivering statements, participating in negotiations and holding side events at the UN.
Kenya plays host to several UN organs including United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) whose global headquarters are at Gigiri Nairobi and UN-Habitat Regional Headquarters in Africa (ROAf) whose offices are equally located in Nairobi.
In 2017, current Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed was selected to be part a new Team of External Advisers for the United Nations.
[caption caption="CS Amina Mohamed"]
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Other African countries that have held the position include South Africa, Ghana, Malawi and Morocco.
