Principal Secretary, State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Kenya
Teresia Mbaika, CBS
Teresia Mbaika, CBS
As the Principal Secretary, State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development (SDAAD), Terry provides strategic leadership and oversight for Kenya’s rapidly advancing civil aviation and aerospace sectors. Her mandate encompasses the formulation and execution of aviation policies governing airlines, airports, and critical infrastructure, with a strong focus on driving operational excellence, safety, and sustainability across the sector. Terry is responsible for the overall development, maintenance, and enhancement of airports and airstrip infrastructure and the modernisation of air traffic control systems to ensure the highest standards of safety and security. She champions the growth of the aviation sector through targeted investments and robust public-private partnerships, propelling Kenya towards its vision of becoming Africa’s premier aviation and air cargo hub. Among her key responsibilities, she oversees air accident investigations and ensures the enforcement of safety recommendations. She also handles the negotiation and implementation of Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASAs), which expand Kenya’s international air connectivity and strengthen global partnerships. Terry has led various delegations representing the government in key local and global programs, including US training by TSA, the 2nd UN Tourism/ICAO Ministerial Conference on Tourism and Air Transport in Africa held in Angola, and the Africa Aviation Summit 2025 (Rwanda), among other forums. Her vision extends beyond conventional civil aviation. She collaborates actively with domestic and international stakeholders to advance Kenya’s role in space technology, including satellite development and space exploration initiatives, thus cementing Kenya’s status as a frontrunner in Africa’s emerging space industry. Terry served as the Principal Secretary for Devolution, where she played a pivotal role in strengthening Kenya’s decentralised governance framework, facilitating intergovernmental relations, building capacity within county governments, and providing technical assistance. Her leadership supported shared mandates such as disaster risk management between the national and county governments, ensuring effective service delivery throughout Kenya. Terry’s distinguished public service career spans over a decade and includes extensive governance and advisory roles across multiple sectors. She has made significant contributions as a board member at key state corporations, including Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA), where she served a full six-year term, chairing the Audit, Technical, and Human Resource & Finance Committees and that of the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), where she served for three years, leading both the Technical and Finance Administration Committees. Her leadership and community service career began at the Kaiti constituency development fund (CDF) office, where she served as the fund manager, maintaining all records and closely working with the member of parliament and the youth. Terry has represented Kenya in various national and international fora, including overseeing and hosting the annual National Devolution Conference. (2023 – 2024). At COP 28 and 29 in Dubai and Baku, respectively, she has actively participated in discussions on the Global Stocktake and the need to transition away from fossil fuels and climate finance and setting a new finance goal for developing countries, respectively. She has also represented Kenya and added her voice at the annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) sessions in the last three years. CSW is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality, the rights and the empowerment of women. She has participated in reviewing and appraising the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and in town hall events under the leadership of the UN Secretary General. Terry has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to community development and women’s leadership. She has pioneered numerous community projects, focusing on youth mentorship and empowerment, and has actively participated in elective politics, running for Member of the National Assembly in Kaiti Constituency during the 2022 General Election. Terry holds a Master of Science degree (Health Economics and Policy), University of Nairobi, 2013 – 2019 and a Bachelor of Science (Environmental Health) from Kenyatta University. She is an alumna of the Precious Blood Secondary School – Kilungu, where she has also served as a committee member in the alumnae association.
