Kenya officially took up her position as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) coming six months after beating Djibouti to clinch the coveted seat. 

The Kenyan flag was hoisted at the UN headquarters in New York on Monday together with those of nine other holders of non-permanent seats at the UNSC. 

The move signaled the commencement of Kenya’s term of two years at the UN’s most powerful organ and came 23 years after she last sat on the hankered global seat. 

"Deeply touched and honoured to represent the great people and country of Kenya in planting our flag at the door of the @UN Security Council! We will be a bold voice for Kenya, Africa, and all peoples yearning for peace and security," said Martin Kimani, Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN in New York.

Kenya bagged the seat after beating Djibouti in a second round of voting in 2020 with President Uhuru Kenyatta saying it would secure Kenya’s position as a regional and global power house. 

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Kenya got 129 votes to beat Djibouti's 62 votes in the June vote giving her more than the two-thirds required under the Rules of Procedure of the UN General Assembly to clinch the seat. 

However, during the voting, Kenya faced off with a determined Djibouti despite getting backing from more than 50 countries in the African Union (AU) as Africa’s choice for the position. 

Kenya now joins nine other non-permanent members of the UNSC and in line for a chance to preside over Council sittings and influence its global peace and security agenda. 

She will also work with the five permanent members of the council; US, UK, Russia, China and France who all have veto powers at the UN Security Council.