The Martin Kimani Archive

201 archive objects · 23 Context Records · 129 primary sources archived · 2006–2026

Profile

Ambassador Martin Kimani

C.B.S, E.B.S, Ph.D.

Career

  1. 01/2025 – presentPresident and CEO, The Africa Center — New York
  2. 06/2024 – 01/2025Executive Director, Center on International Cooperation, New York University — New York
  3. 11/2020 – 05/2024Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations, President of the UN Security Council (October 2021); President of the Executive Board of UNDP, UNFPA, and UNOPS in 2023 (Vice President, 2022) — New York
  4. 09/2015 – 08/2022Director, National Counter Terrorism Centre; President's Special Envoy for Countering Violent Extremism; Secretary for Strategic Initiatives, Executive Office of the President — Nairobi
  5. 12/2012 – 09/2015Permanent Representative, UN Environment Programme and UN Human Settlements Programme — Nairobi
  6. 04/2011 – 12/2012Director, IGAD Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism — Addis Ababa
  7. 03/2010 – 04/2011Deputy Director, later Acting Director, Africa Center, The Atlantic Council — Washington, DC
  8. 04/2006 – 06/2008Senior Counter Terrorism Advisor, IGAD Capacity Building Program Against Terrorism — Addis Ababa

Education

  • Ph.D., War Studies, 2010

    King's College, University of London, London

    Doctoral research on hatred, mass violence, and genocide.

  • M.A., War Studies, 2003

    King's College London, London

  • B.A., Philosophy, 1996

    University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH

Honors and Fellowships

  • Act III Leadership and Legacy Laureate, Aspen Institute
  • Carnegie Distinguished Fellow, Institute of Global Politics, SIPA, Columbia University, 2024–25
  • Distinguished Fellow, Center on International Cooperation, New York University
  • Honorary Award of the German Africa Foundation, 2022
  • Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear, First Class (C.B.S), Republic of Kenya, 2021; Elder of the Burning Spear, 2018
  • Fellow, African Leadership Initiative and the Aspen Global Leadership Program
  • Distinguished African Visiting Fellow, South African Institute of International Affairs, 2013

Boards

  • UN High-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs
  • Advisory Board, UN Fund for International Partnerships (UN Foundation)
  • Strategic Advisory Group, United Nations Joint SDG Fund (2023 – 2024)
  • International Rescue Committee
  • International Security Conference on Africa (ISCA)