SuperSU permissions

Hi

Should Kodi 16.1 running on Android 5.1.1 ask for superuser permissions?

The reason I ask is I have a portable HDD connected via USB and kodi cannot write to it yet android can with es file explorer, and this is the only reason I can think of that kodi can’t write to it

Unless anyone knows better

TIA for any help on this as is driving me a bit nuts here