Kenya’s Amina Mohamed to formalize her candidacy to replace Ban Ki-moon as UN Secy. General

Kenya has been quietly lobbying for its Foreign Affairs Secretary Amina Mohammed, to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) and the first woman to be the world’s top diplomat.

Incumbent UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon from South Korea leaves office in December 2016.

The recruitment and selection process of the next of the next Secretary-General is set to to begin in the middle of 2016, however, credible sources within the Kenya government have indicated that the Kenyatta administration intends to endorse the 53-year-old Mohammed.

Prior to her appointment to the Kenyan Cabinet in 2013, Secretary Amina Mohammed – who is a lawyer and diplomat – has previously served as the Chair of the International Organization for Migration and the World Trade Organization’s General Council. She has also served as the Assistant UN Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director of the UN Environment Program (UNEP). Through her leadership, Kenya secured rights to host the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in July, the upcoming World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in December this year and Tokyo International Conference on African Development in 2016.

Kofi Annan from Ghana served from 1997-2006 in the top job that unofficially rotates among regions. If Mohammed is selected, that would mean two diplomats from sub-Saharan Africa in 20 years.

Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon has already made a public declaration that member states should consider giving the post to a woman.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations is appointed by the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the 5-member Security Council, that comprises of Britain, China, France, the United States and Russia.

Candidates names are submitted to the Security Council that holds closed consultations before recommending one candidate to the General Assembly. A simple majority is required.

There is an understanding the position rotates among regions – this implies that it is Eastern Europe’s ‘turn’, however, Western governments are uncomfortable with Russia’s influence – which may give Secretary Mohammed’s candidature a boost.