Kenya was among the countries that voted in favor of an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas militants, in contrast to the United States of America (USA) and Israel, which voted against it.
The United States and Israel were two of 14 countries that voted against a UN General Assembly resolution calling for an immediate, durable, and sustained humanitarian truce between the two warring nations. Jordan was the driving force behind the resolution, which was drafted by a group of 22 Arab countries.
“Our favorable vote aimed to address the emergency humanitarian needs of Palestinians in Gaza,” a statement by Kenya at the UN National Assembly read.
A total of 120 countries voted in favor of the resolution, while 45 others abstained, including Canada, which had introduced a report to the Assembly that sought to condemn Hamas for its October 7 attack on Israel.
“We listened closely to the representatives of Israel and Palestine. We were dismayed by their lack of empathy for each other’s innocent civilian casualties. This entrenched partiality, this failure to recognize the shared humanity on both sides, is a fundamental obstacle to resolving this protracted conflict,” read part of Kenya’s statement to the UN.
“Mindful of multiple Security Council resolutions, Kenya calls on all Member States to intensify efforts to suppress the financing of terrorist groups.”
Kenya’s take on the issue was read before the Assembly’s plenary meeting by Ambassador Martin Mbugua Kimani, the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, who also cast a vote on behalf of the country.
“Kenya voted in favor as Jordan heeded our call & adjusted the text to include language on terrorism, addressed Israeli and Palestinian victims and the 2-state solution,” Kimani said after completion of the voting process.
Canada later introduced an amendment that sought to condemn the Hamas attack, but it failed as it did not receive the necessary two-thirds majority.
The North American country wanted Hamas to be compelled to release all civilian hostages in what it termed an act of terrorism. Kenya was among the minority who backed Canada in the failed amendment.
