Maalim Mahboub

Mahboub Maalim, Executive Secretary of IGAD

A registered Engineer with The Kenya Engineers’ Registration Board and a member of the Institute of Engineers of Kenya, Engineer Maalim is also an Associate member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Eng. Maalim earned his M.Sc in Civil Engineering in 1992 at Texas A& I University in USA where he had previously acquired his BSc degree in Civil Engineering. Before going to study in the USA he trained on water Technology for two years in the Kenya Water Institute, completing in 1978. He spent one year, from June 1978 to June 1979 as an inspector of water responsible for water supplies, planning, construction, and operation and maintenance in Mandera, Kenya, before being promoted to the position of District Water Engineer. In which position he served in three of the major towns in Kenya namely: Mandera, Mombasa and Garissa consecutively between 1979 and 1994.

After earning his M.Sc in Civil Engineering, Eng. Maalim’s career quickly changed over the next six years to executive level and expanded far beyond that of engineering field to become coordinator in multinational projects among them World Banks’ credit financed project known as: The drought Recovery Project of Wajir District in Kenya for two years from 1994 to 1996 that gave him experience in planning, budgeting, financing and implementing multi-sectoral development programmes. On completion of the World Bank project he oversaw the success of yet another major project as a deputy National Project Coordinator and National coordinator, Arid Lands Resource Management Project for another three years between 1997 and 2000.

Eng. Maalim’ s career accelerated in the next five years to another level of senior civil servant position of Permanent Secretary (PS) in two of Kenya’s Ministries; Permanent Secretary Ministry of State for Special Programs, Office of The President from July 2004 to August 2005 and later Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water and Irrigation a position he held till his prestigious appointment to become the first Kenyan to hold the office of The Executive Secretary for the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) since 2008.

Throughout it all Eng. Maalim has repeatedly proven his ability to lead through diverse and challenging situations that have led to him winning some of the most prestigious National and International awards and Honors, which includes: The order of Grand Warrior of Kenya (OGWWK) and Chief of Burning Spear of Kenya (CBS – Kenya). As an excellent agent of change and with a documented track record of accomplishments, he has equally been recognized by the academic institutions in the USA and he is in The dean’s list; Fall of 1987 St. Edwards University Austin Texas (USA), in the Who is Who among International Students in American Colleges and Universities, 1988/89 and 1989/90 and also in the Who is Who among students in American Colleges and Universities, 1990-1991.

With vast executive, management and administrative experience and well publicized career, Eng. Maalim has equally been entrusted with activities that he has undertaken in collaboration with partners across the board among them; USAID Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET), The United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Drought emergency Project, Violence Reduction in Pastoralist Conflicts in Garissa District, Collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) food security, UNICEF’s Nutrition Survey and OXFAM -GB’s formation of important structures.