Kenya has kicked off its campaign for a second term for Bishar Hussein at the United Nations agency dealing with the postal sector.
Recently while in Geneva, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed hosted a reception for diplomats accredited to Switzerland and the UN and other international organizations to announce its candidature for the position of Director General of the Universal Postal Union (UPU).
(TOP: Bishar Hussein, Director General, Universal Postal Union (UPU) who’s seeking a second 4-year term).
Mr Bishar Hussein has been the UPU Director General for the past four years and is seeking a second term in elections set for September this year.
Mrs Amina Mohammed presided over the reception to lobby for support for Kenya’s candidate, where over 100 diplomats based in Geneva were in attendance held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva.
The Cabinet Secretary hailed Mr Hussein’s performance at the UPU, saying he had virtually fulfilled all targets set for him on 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 the CS.
She also thanked the international community for the support extended towards Mr Hussein during his tenure.
During his tenure, the UPU has undertaken reforms in its secretariat, which have resulted in enhanced efficiency, transparency as well as regional and gender balance of its international staff.
The CS said that Kenya’s candidate had already secured support of the 54-member countries of the African Union following his endorsement by the AU Heads of State summit held in January 2016 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In a speech read on his behalf by CA Board chairman Mr. Ben Gituku, 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 Mr.Mucheru in a speech read on his behalf by the CA chairman Ngene Gituku.
Kenya will also be vying for membership in the UPU Council of Administration and the Postal Operations Council, which are key organs of the UN specialized agency.
Hussein was elected Director General of the UPU in 2012, becoming the first ever African to head the UPU since its establishment 1874. Prior to his election, he chaired the UPU Council of Administration between 2008 and 2012.
Husein 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.
UPU elections are scheduled to take place in September during the 26th UPU Congress in Istanbul, Turkey.
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