Mr. Ahmed Abdi Noor, a seasoned civil servant and humanitarian with over four decades of experience in public service, has been nominated for the position of Chairperson of the Garissa County Public Service Board.
His nomination marks a significant moment for the county’s governance and human resource management systems, as the Assembly gears up for a crucial confirmation hearing on Thursday, July 31, 2025.
Noor’s career is a tapestry of public duty, humanitarian missions, and county-level leadership. Starting out in 1984 as a bursar at Garissa High School, he quickly transitioned into international humanitarian work, joining the International Red Crescent in 1992 as a Logistics and Administration Officer.
He later worked with Action Nord-Sud, a European-based NGO, in northeastern Kenya from 1993 to 1996.
After years in the humanitarian sector, Noor returned to the education field in 1996, taking up the role of Finance Officer at Garissa Teachers Training College.
He later entered electoral administration as District Election Coordinator with the now-defunct Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) in Ijara District, serving until the ECK’s dissolution in 2009.
In a brief yet impactful stint in the private sector, Noor managed a printing firm in Nairobi before returning to his native Garissa to join the devolved county government in 2014.
He began as a Principal Accountant in the Governor’s Office and steadily rose through the ranks to become Chief Officer in the Departments of Water and Planning.
One of his most significant achievements came during his tenure in the Planning Department, where he led the formulation of the County’s Five-Year Strategic Plan and later spearheaded the development of the Third Garissa County Strategic Plan.
These blueprints are credited with strengthening service delivery frameworks and enhancing institutional efficiency across county departments.
Noor holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA-K).
He has also undergone advanced senior leadership training at the Kenya School of Government, a qualification that further solidifies his managerial credentials.
Those close to him describe Noor as “humble,” “hands-on,” and “highly principled.”
His nomination is seen by political observers as a strategic move by the county executive to instill professionalism and performance-oriented leadership in a board that plays a central role in hiring, disciplining, and promoting county government employees.
Should the County Assembly approve his appointment, Noor will face the task of steering the Garissa County Public Service Board through a period of increased public scrutiny, with calls growing louder for more transparency and merit-based recruitment across county institutions.
His supporters argue that few individuals possess his level of institutional memory, especially in a county still grappling with the teething pains of devolution.
