Prof. Kobia is a scholar, a teacher, a seasoned administrator currently serving as an Adjunct Research Professor at the African Women Studies Center (AWSC) of the University of Nairobi. She is the Team Leader of the Women Climate Change, Environment and Biodiversity Program at AWSC. Prof. Kobia is the Chancellor, St Paul’s University Kenya, since 2018. She holds a Ph.D. in Human Resource Education from the University of Illinois, M.Ed. from Kenyatta University, and B.Ed. from the University of Nairobi. She served as the Cabinet Minister for the Ministry of Public Service, Youth, Gender, Social Protection and Special Programs from 2018 to 2022. Prior to joining the Cabinet, she was the Chairperson, Public Service Commission (PSC) and Vice Chair, Judicial Service Commission (JSC) from 2013 to 2018. She is the founding Director General of the Kenya School of Government (KSG) where she served from 2005 to 2012. Prof. Kobia was a Senior Lecturer of Management, Entrepreneurship and Research Methods at Strathmore University from 2003 to 2005. She served as the Chief Editor of African Journal of Public Administration and Management (AAPAM) 2010 to 2014, a refereed journal.

In recognition of her distinguished role in public service and contribution to national development, Prof. Kobia was awarded the Order of Grand Warrior (OGW), First Class Order of Chief of Burning Spear (CBS), Moran of the Golden Heart (MGH) and Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (EGH) by the Presidents of the Republic of Kenya in 2007, 2009, 2016, and 2021 respectively.

In 2014, Prof. Kobia was recognized and awarded as Africa’s most influential woman in Business and Government by CEO Magazine of South Africa. At the International level, Prof. Kobia was a member of the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) from 2017 to 2021, a committee that advises the UN Economic and Social Council. She was the Vice President of the Commonwealth Association of Public Administration Management (CAPAM) from 2010 to 2017, a member of the International Commission on Accreditation of Public Administration Education and Training Programs and Co-Chair of the Effective Institutions Platform (EIP). Prof. Kobia emerged as the winner of the Commonwealth Gordon Draper Award 2010 an award that recognized her for her strong leadership and outstanding contribution to improving public administration in the Commonwealth. She also received the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Education, University of Illinois, recognizing her role in public service, strong leadership in institutional building, and academic research work in Kenya.

Prof. Kobia has published widely in refereed journals, and book chapters on Management Training and Governance. As an active academic, she has supervised Master’s and Ph.D. students. Her research interests include effective governance, public administration, the promotion of gender equity and equality, inclusivity, public sector management and management consulting.