The Kenyan government had adopted a wait-and-see attitude with the US despite deteriorating relationships between the US and African countries, due to the country's bid for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council (UNSC).
Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, who sits in the Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations in the National Assembly told Kenyans.co.ke that the country's chances of ascending to the elective seat were directly tied down to the relationship that the country has with the US.
"Kenya has made a bid for the UNSC seat and because of this, we will have to go slow on the US despite Donald Trump's decisions before we win this seat. Once we win the seat, we can decide our next move in relation to our relationship with the US which is in deterioration," he stated.
His sentiments were in relation to the move by Trump to sign a document signaling his administration's intent to withdraw from the Treaty on Open Skies from which Kenya benefitted in terms of military aid.
Amisi revealed that the move had caused a huge strain in the relationship between the two countries, indicating that the US was Kenya's biggest source of not only military aid but also projects due to the Open Space Agreement.
With the economic might and general influence brought about by the US' role as a permanent member in the UNSC, the MP indicated that it would be easy for Trump to influence decisions and arm-twist other countries that might be dependent on the US against any country it sees as threatening.
His views were supported by Article 18 of the UN Charter which gives conditions upon which a major decision concerning the membership of the country can be made.
"Decisions of the General Assembly on important questions shall be made by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting. These questions shall include: recommendations with respect to the maintenance of international peace and security, the election of the non-permanent members of the Security Council, the election of the members of the Economic and Social Council, the election of members of the Trusteeship Council in accordance with paragraph 1 (c) of Article 86, the admission of new Members to the United Nations, the suspension of the rights and privileges of membership, the expulsion of Members, questions relating to the operation of the trusteeship system, and budgetary questions," the Charter reads.
Of the five permanent members on the UNSC (France, Russia, China, UK) the US is seen as the most powerful and the most influential, a matter that the MP argued was forcing the country to tread carefully.
"We have always been on the receiving end of unpopular moves by superpower countries. There is some sort of unbalanced and skewed relationship between us, but our hands are tied because we have to depend on them militarily, economically and politically," the MP regretted.
Kenyatta, on October 26, 2019, announced the country's bid for the top UN seat and has since received support from many quarters, including from Jane Marriot, the new United Kingdom High Commissioner to Kenya.
The Security Council has primary responsibility, under the United Nations Charter, for the maintenance of international peace and security. It is for the Security Council (UNSC) to determine when and where a UN peace operation should be deployed.
The 2020 United Nations Security Council election will be held in June 2020 during the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly, held at United Nations Headquarters in New York City.
