Kenya is poised to join the exclusive club of Great 20 nations popularly known as G-20.



G-20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union with South Africa being the only African member on the list.

The countries include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Kenya will join that exclusive club of world’s greatest economies if African Union (AU) is accepted to join the forum using the same path European Union was incorporated through.
AU efforts have been boosted by US President Joe Biden after he endorsed the move in a statement released by White House Adviser Judd Devermont.

"We need more African voices in international conversations that concern the global economy, democracy and governance, climate change, health, and security," Devermont announced on December 10.

The request to have AU get a permanent seat in G20 was made by AU Chair and Senegalese President Macky Sall and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

G20 countries discuss and make binding policies on the most pressing issues facing the global economy most notably in governance, climate change, health, and security.

What it means for Kenya

With AU becoming a permanent member, Kenya will have a say in world matters by virtue of being a member of AU.

The country has been grappling with adverse effects of climate change and will now be able to advocate for policies that can mitigate that.

Kenya has been affected economically due to terrorist activities at the Horn of Africa, being a member of G20, the country will propose policies that will bring stability to the region.

Africa is the poorest continent in terms of health systems structure. This has made Kenya lag behind when it comes to responding to pandemics and diseases requiring specialised treatment.

Being at the negotiating table, Kenya will advocate for more resource funding to promote health systems in the country and the continent in general.