Prof. Gideon Maina J.K. – Ph.D. is the Vice-Chancellor of Pioneer International University (PIU).
A scholar in International Law and Political Science, Prof. Maina has more than 20 years of academic research, institutional and administrative expertise straddling five universities and a multiple local and international institutions, boards and task teams. He holds qualifications in Political Science and International Law from three universities including a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from the University of Cape town, master’s in international law from the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) and the Peace Academy of International Law at The Hague. He is an alumnus of the Alliance High School. He was instrumental in establishing Moot courts and simulation debates across two universities in Kenya that went on to compete with Harvard Law School in the United States of America. He was among the Pioneers who conceptualized the idea that came to be the Kenya Foreign Service Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that train all the diplomats who represent Kenya in various missions across the globe. He is an alumnus of the Africa International Humanitarian Law(IHL) fellows based in Pretoria South Africa.
Prior to his appointment as Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Maina taught and supervised research at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, in areas of Political Science and Public International Law. He later became Dean in charge of student administration, financial aid and external linkages at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa from 2010-2014. He was the acting Vice-Chancellor at the University in 2010 and instrumental in transforming the institution’s’ governance and chaired various strategic committees at the same University.
Prof. Maina is a consultant on strategic and national security, Foreign policy, Governance, Transformative leadership, International Humanitarian Law at the Kenya Foreign Service Institute, the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) of the Kenya Defense forces and the Kenya delegation of ICRC.As an IHL fellow based in Pretoria, South Africa, he is responsible for stimulating knowledge and understanding of, and ultimately respect for International Humanitarian Law within the academic community in Kenya and beyond. He is also a key consultant of the International Trade Centre-a UN agency that deals with trade enhancement across the globe. He has keen interest in Food Security and economic development, regional integration and investments, and public-private partnerships.
Lastly, Prof. Maina has a lot of passion for community service and mentorship and has been involved in various projects within the church and society particularly relating to the needy and vulnerable. He is an astute and versatile debater on contemporary issues and a great African optimist. He is a fellow at the globethics whose mission is to equip individuals and institutions for ethical thinking and action. He is also a Paul Haris Fellow -an honour bestowed by Rotary International for his role in enhancing peace and understanding across the world.
What inspires Prof. Maina is:
That when the years turn my vision dim and gray, I shall still be seeing beauty in the tired wrinkles of my face and I shall take pride and comfort out of the fact and knowledge that when God granted me the opportunity I gave myself selflessly in empowering other people to discover themselves, realize their full potential and exploit the unlimited opportunities on the road to better and more fulfilling lives.