Kenya has traditionally been a very strong contender internationally, and the country competes to be at the hosting stage of distinguished world organizations as well as gain key leadership seats.
The nation boasts a favorable strategic location, diplomacy, and economic status in a way that has enabled it to put aggressive bids as part of trying to solidify itself in global positions. The nation has nevertheless incurred tremendous defeats over time after hopeful efforts were defeated by competing states.
These losses not only highlight the complexities of international diplomacy but also underscore the challenges Kenya must navigate to gain a stronger foothold in global governance. Below are seven instances where Kenya fell short in its quest for international recognition.
President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development
Former Defence and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo vied for the presidency of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). She competed against candidates including Shobhana Kumar Pattanayak (India), Khaled A. Mahdi (Kuwait), and Alvaro Lario (Spain).
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Despite her credentials, Omamo lost the contest to Lario, who was serving as IFAD’s associate vice president and chief financial officer at the time. Lario secured the position and will serve a four-year term.
Commonwealth Secretary-General
Kenya’s former Foreign Affairs and Energy Cabinet Secretary, Monica Juma, had expressed interest in becoming the Commonwealth Secretary-General but later withdrew her candidacy, citing divisions within the organization.
Reports indicated that Kenya had garnered the backing of a majority of member states, but some remained non-committal. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged that although Kenya had mobilized significant support, it opted to step back to preserve harmony within the Commonwealth.
Chairperson of the African Union Commission
Kenya has twice fielded candidates for the position of African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson but lost on both occasions.
In 2017, former Sports, Education, and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed contested for the role but was defeated by Chad’s Moussa Faki Mahamat. Mohamed later attributed her loss to divisions within the continent, pointing out that some Southern African nations had abstained from voting.
In 2024, Kenya presented former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the same position. However, after six rounds of voting, Odinga lost to Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf. Although Odinga led in the initial two rounds, Youssouf gained an advantage in the third round after the Madagascar candidate withdrew.
Director-General of the World Trade Organization
Kenya's quest for the Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) suffered a significant blow in 2020 when Ambassador Amina Mohamed was knocked out in the second last round of voting.
Following a rigorous selection process that started on September 24 and concluded on October 6, the contest was left to two candidates: Nigeria's Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and South Korea's Yoo Myung-hee. Though Mohamed had a vast amount of experience in international trade, she, along with Dr. Liam Fox (United Kingdom) and Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijiri (Saudi Arabia), did not secure enough votes to proceed to the final round.
Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization
Kenya’s efforts to secure the Secretary-General position at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2023 ended in disappointment. The country had nominated Ambassador Nancy Karigithu, a seasoned diplomat in maritime affairs.
Despite Kenya’s strong push, the UN agency, responsible for global maritime safety and environmental regulations, selected Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco of Panama for the role. Manoah Esipisu, Kenya’s former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, confirmed the loss but expressed optimism for future opportunities.
Bid to Host African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat
Kenya also lost its bid to host the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with Ghana emerging as the preferred choice.
The decision was made during the 35th Extraordinary African Union (AU) Summit in Niamey, Niger. Following Ghana’s selection, the country has since taken up the responsibility of overseeing the trade bloc’s implementation, which aims to boost economic integration across the continent.
Bid to Host Loss and Damage Fund Headquarters
In July 2024, Kenya lost the competition to host the headquarters of the Loss and Damage Fund, and the hosting right went to the Philippines.
It was decided through a closed session on July 9, 2024, in Songdo, South Korea. Kenya was competing against seven other countries, namely Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Barbados, the Bahamas, Togo, and Eswatini.
Established during the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference in 2023, the Loss and Damage Fund provides financial assistance to countries facing severe climate-related disasters such as rising sea levels and extreme weather events. With the Philippines as the host, the country will now oversee the fund’s governance and operations in collaboration with the World Bank, which serves as its interim trustee.
