The African Union has reiterated endorsing Kenya for the upcoming vote for the UN Security Council seat in what could strengthen Kenya's chances ahead of the election due June 17.

"The Mission has the honour to remind that the African Union endorsed the Republic of Kenya for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council for the term 2021-2022," the Mission headed by Ms Fatima Kyari Mohammed, said in the note on June 9.

The move by the AU came after the Africa Group, the association of African members at the UN which routinely work together to push policies for the continent at the UN, indicating Kenya had received due endorsement at the African Union last year in August.

Botswana's Permanent Representative to the UN Collen Vixen Kelapile, the current chair of the group, then asked the AU Mission to clarify the status of African candidature to the UN Security Council.

Djibouti have argued they should be the sole African candidate this year based on the rotation policy and given the fact that Kenya has been at the UN Security Council more times.