Kenya campaigns for top UN agency seat

Kenya campaigns for top UN agency seat

Kenya has kicked off its campaign for a second term for the top seat of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the United Nations (UN) specialized agency for postal and courier sector.

Kenya’s Ambassador Bishar Hussein  has been the UPU Director General for the past four years and is gunning for second term in elections set for September this year.

According to a press statement sent by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), the Kenyan government capitalized on the UPU Council of Administration meeting that has been underway in the Swiss Capital city of Bern for the past three weeks, to ensure Ambassador Hussein gets the maximum support.

CAK said Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Ambassador Amina Mohammed last Friday led the Kenyan delegation in hosting diplomats from across the world in the Swiss city of Geneva to lobby for support for Kenya’s candidate.

The Cabinet Secretary hailed Ambassador Hussein’s sterling performance at the UPU, having virtually fulfilled all promises he had made upon assuming office four years ago.

‘‘Within a span of three and a half years, Amb. Hussein and his team have made remarkable progress in attaining virtually all the milestones of the Doha Postal Strategy, as well as the Doha Congress decisions and resolutions,’’ noted Ambassador Amina.

Ambassador Amina also thanked the international community for the immeasurable support it has extended towards Amb. Hussein during his tenure that has been critical towards the realization of the successes recorded.

Under Ambassador Hussein’s stewardship, the UPU has undergone notable reforms in its secretariat which have resulted in enhanced efficiency, transparency as well as regional and gender balance of its international staff.

ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru said the UPU is continuously re-invigorating the postal sector to take advantage of emerging technologies as well as respond to prevailing threats such as terrorism. In all this, he added, the current UPU leadership has kept stakeholder engagements at the centre of it decision making.

‘‘The current leadership of the UPU has scaled up its stakeholder management for better coordination between postal utilities, custom administrations, airlines, law enforcement agencies and relevant international organizations,’’ said Mucheru in a speech read on his behalf by the CA chairman Ngene Gituku.

Kenya has also expressed interest in joining the UPU Council of Administration as well as membership in the Postal Operations Council, key organs of the UPU.

 

 

Ambassador Hussein was elected to the position in 2012, becoming the first ever African to head the UPU since its establishment 1874.

 

Prior to his election, Ambassador Hussein had chaired the UPU Council of Administration between 2008-2012.

 

Ambassador Hussein has over 20 years experience in the postal sector, rising through the ranks to serve as the Postmaster General of the Postal Corporation of Kenya.

He has also served as Kenya’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

 

 

Tags:

kenya United Nations UN ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru Ambassador Bishar Hussein CA chairman Ngene Gituku Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Ambassador Amina Mohammed Universal Postal Union UPU UPU Council of Administration UPU Director General

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