Kenya's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Martin Kimani delivered the country's stand on the Ukraine-Russia conflict at the emergency Security Council meeting on Monday, February 21, 2022.
Kimani affirmed that Kenya is against the breach of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity by Russia.
Kenya raised concerns over the move by President Vladimir Putin-led country to recognise Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine as independent states.
"In our considered view, this action and announcement breach the territorial integrity of Ukraine," Kimani stated.
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"We do not deny that there may be serious concerns in these regions. But they cannot justify today's recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states. Not when there were multiple diplomatic tracks available and underway that had the ability to offer peaceful solutions," he added.
Ambassador Kimani likened the situation in the two countries to how African states solved territorial issues after colonialism, urging them to explore diplomacy instead of war.
"At independence, had we chosen to pursue states on the basis of ethnic, racial or religious homogeneity, we would still be waging bloody wars these many decades later. Instead, we agreed that we would settle for the border that we inherited. But we would still pursue continental political, economic, and legal integration," he stated.
Kimani noted that Russia had failed to consider a democratic approach in ending the row with Ukraine. He further noted that the Eastern Europe nation had failed to honour the UN charter that requires that all countries foster international peace and security and to establish friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples.
"The Charter of the United Nations continues to wilt under the relentless assault of the powerful. In one moment it is invoked with reverence by the very same countries who then turn their backs on it in pursuit of objectives diametrically opposed to international peace and security.
"In the two last meetings on the situation in Ukraine and the buildup of forces by the Russian Federation, Kenya urged that diplomacy be given a chance. Our cry was not heeded, and more importantly, the Charter's demand for states to 'settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered' has been profoundly undermined," Kimani noted.
The speech has since gone viral, attracting praise from various diplomats and world citizens who have described it as one of the best.
"The speech by Martin Kimani, Kenya's ambassador to the UN, at the UN Security Council is being described as one of the best speeches delivered at the forum in recent years," Adrian Blomfield, East Africa correspondent for the Economist stated.
"The African UNSC members and Mexico basically agreed with Western members that an attack on Ukraine is an attack on @UN norms. And Kenya in particular framed this brilliantly in terms of imperialism and colonialism. That was one of the best #UNSC speeches I have heard," Richard Gowan stated.
