The World’s Leaders: A List – K

See A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and J for the previous parts.

My nerdy series continues!

[Most recent edit 19 May 2024: Kuwait has a new prime minister.]

KAZAKHSTAN

The Republic of Kazakhstan’s current state leaders are President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (born 1953), who assumed office on 20 March 2019; and Prime Minister Oljas Bektenov (born 1980), who assumed office on 6 February 2024.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

Oljas Bektenov

Living is former President Nursultan Nazarbayev (born 1940), who held office from 16 December 1991 until 20 March 2019.

Nursultan Nazarbayev

Also living are former Prime Ministers Akejan Kajegeldin (born 1952), who held office from 14 October 1994 until 10 October 1997; Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (born 1953), who held office from 1 October 1999 until 28 January 2002; Imangali Tasmagambetov (born 1956), who held office from 28 January 2002 until 11 June 2003; Daniyal Akhmetov (born 1954), who held office from 11 June 2003 until 8 January 2007; Karim Massimov (born 1965), who held office from 10 January 2007 until 24 September 2012, and again from 2 April 2014 until 8 September 2016; Serik Akhmetov (born 1958), who held office from 24 September 2012 until 2 April 2014; Bakhytjan Sagintayev (born 1963), who held office from 8 September 2016 until 21 February 2019; Asqar Mamin (born 1965), who held office from 21 February 2019 until 5 January 2022; Älihan Smaiylov (born 1972), who held office from 5 January 2022 until 5 February 2024; and Roman Skylar (born 1971), who held office in an acting capacity from 5 February 2024 until 6 February 2024.

Akejan Kajegeldin

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

Imangali Tasmagambetov

Daniyal Akhmetov

Karim Massimov

Serik Akhmetov

Bakhytjan Sagintayev

Asqar Mamin

Älihan Smaiylov

Roman Skylar

KENYA

The Republic of Kenya’s current state leader is President William Ruto (born 1966), who assumed office on 13 September 2022 (and previously held office in an acting capacity from 6 October 2014 until 9 October 2014).

William Ruto

Living is former President Uhuru Kenyatta (born 1961), who held office from 9 April 2013 until 13 September 2022.

Uhuru Kenyatta

Also living is former Prime Minister Raila Odinga (born 1945), who held office from 17 April 2008 until 9 April 2013.

Raila Odinga

KIRIBATI

The Republic of Kiribati’s current state leader is President Taneti Maamau (born 1960), who assumed office on 11 March 2016.

Taneti Maamau

Living are former Presidents Ieremia Tabai (born 1949), who held office from 12 July 1979 until 10 December 1982, and again from 18 February 1983 until 4 July 1991; Tekiree Tamuera (born 1940), who held office in an acting capacity from 24 May 1994 until 28 May 1994; Ata Teaotai, who held office in an acting capacity from 28 May 1994 until 1 October 1994; Teburoro Tito (born 1953), who held office from 1 October 1994 until 28 March 2003; Tion Otang, who held office in an acting capacity from 28 March 2003 until 10 July 2003; and Anote Tong (born 1952), who held office from 10 July 2003 until 11 March 2016.

Ieremia Tabai

Teburoro Tito

Anote Tong

KOSOVO

The Republic of Kosovo’s current state leaders are President Vjosa Osmani (born 1982), who assumed office on 4 April 2021 (and previously held office in an acting capacity from 5 November 2020 until 22 March 2021; and Prime Minister Albin Kurti (born 1975), who assumed office on 22 March 2021 (and previously held office from 3 February 2020 until 3 June 2020).

Vjosa Osmani

Albin Kurti

Living are former Presidents Fatmir Sejdiu (born 1951), who held office from 10 February 2006 until 27 September 2010; Jakup Krasniqi (born 1951), who held office in an acting capacity from 27 September 2010 until 22 February 2011, and again from 4 April 2011 until 7 April 2011; Behgjet Pacolli (born 1951), who held office from 22 February 2011 until 4 April 2011; Atifete Jahjaga (born 1975), who held office from 7 April 2011 until 7 April 2016; Hashim Thaçi (born 1968), who held office from 7 April 2016 until 5 November 2020; and Glauk Konjufca (born 1981), who held office in an acting capacity from 22 March 2021 until 4 April 2021.

Fatmir Sejdiu

Jakup Krasniqi

Behgjet Pacolli

Atifete Jahjaga

Hashim Thaçi

Glauk Konjufca

Also living are former Prime Ministers Hashim Thaçi (born 1968), who held office from 9 January 2008 until 9 December 2014; Isa Mustafa (born 1951), who held office from 9 December 2014 until 9 September 2017; Ramush Haradinaj (born 1968), who held office from 9 September 2017 until 3 February 2020; and Avdullah Hoti (born 1976), who held office from 3 June 2020 until 22 March 2021.

Hashim Thaçi

Isa Mustafa

Ramush Haradinaj

Avdullah Hoti

KUWAIT

The State of Kuwait’s current state leaders are Emir Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (born 1940), who assumed the throne on 16 December 2023; and Prime Minister Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah (born 1952), who assumed office on 15 May 2024.

Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah

Living are former Prime Ministers Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah (born 1940), who held office from 7 February 2006 until 28 November 2011; Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah (born 1942), who held office from 4 December 2011 until 19 November 2019; Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah (born 1953), who held office from 19 November 2019 until 19 July 2022; Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah (born 1956), who held office from 24 July 2022 until 4 January 2024; and Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah (born 1955), who held office from 17 January 2024 until 15 May 2024.

Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah

Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah

Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah

Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah

Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah

KYRGYZSTAN

The Kyrgyz Republic’s current state leader is President Sadyr Japarov (born 1968), who assumed office on 28 January 2021 (and previously held office in an acting capacity from 15 October 2020 until 14 November 2020).

Sadyr Japarov

Living are former Presidents Askar Akayev (born 1944), who held office from 27 October 1990 until 24 March 2005; Ishenbai Kadyrbekov (born 1949), who held office in an acting capacity from 24 March 2005 until 25 March 2005; Kurmanbek Bakiyev (born 1949), who held office from 25 March 2005 until 15 April 2010; Roza Otunbayeva (born 1950), who held office from 7 April 2010 until 1 December 2011; Almazbek Atambayev (born 1956), who held office from 1 December 2011 until 24 November 2017; Sooronbay Jeenbekov (born 1959), who held office from 24 November 2017 until 15 October 2020; and Talant Mamytov (born 1976), who held office in an acting capacity from 14 November 2020 until 28 January 2021.

Askar Akayev

Ishenbai Kadyrbekov

Kurmanbek Bakiyev

Roza Otunbayeva

Almazbek Atambayev

Sooronbay Jeenbekov

Talant Mamytov

Also living are former Prime Ministers Tursunbek Chyngyshev (born 1942), who held office from 10 February 1992 until 13 December 1993; Almanbet Matubraimov (born 1952), who held office in an acting capacity from 13 December 1993 until 14 December 1993; Apas Jumagulov (born 1934), who held office from 14 December 1993 until 14 March 1998; Kubanychbek Jumaliyev (born 1956), who held office from 14 March 1998 until 23 December 1998; Boris Silayev (born 1946), who held office in an acting capacity from 23 December 1998 until 25 December 1998, and again from 4 April 1999 until 13 April 1999; Amangeldy Muraliyev (born 1947), who held office from 12 April 1999 until 21 December 2000; Kurmanbek Bakiyev (born 1949), who held office from 21 December 2000 until 22 May 2002, and again from 25 March 2005 until 20 June 2005, and again from 10 July 2005 until 15 August 2005; Medetbek Kerimkulov (born 1949), who held office in an acting capacity from 20 June 2005 until 10 July 2005; Felix Kulov (born 1948), who held office from 15 August 2005 until 29 January 2007; Azim Isabekov (born 1960), who held office from 29 January 2007 until 29 March 2007; Almazbek Atambayev (born 1956), who held office from 29 March 2007 until 28 November 2007, and again from 17 December 2010 until 23 September 2011, and again from 14 November 2011 until 1 December 2011; Iskenderbek Aidaraliyev (born 1955), who held office in an acting capacity from 28 November 2007 until 24 December 2007; Igor Chudinov (born 1961), who held office from 24 December 2007 until 21 October 2009; Daniar Usenov (born 1960), who held office from 21 October 2009 until 7 April 2010; Ömürbek Babanov (born 1970), who held office in an acting capacity from 23 September 2011 until 14 November 2011, and again from 1 December 2011 until 24 December 2011, and in an official capacity from 24 December 2011 until 1 September 2012; Aaly Karashev (born 1968), who held office in an acting capacity from 1 September 2012 until 6 September 2012; Zhantoro Satybaldiyev (born 1956), who held office from 6 September 2012 until 24 March 2014; Djoomart Otorbaev (born 1955), who held office from 25 March 2014 until 1 May 2015; Temir Sariyev (born 1963), who held office from 1 May 2015 until 23 April 2016; Sooronbay Jeenbekov (born 1959), who held office from 13 April 2016 until 22 August 2017; Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev (born 1968), who held office in an acting capacity from 22 August 2017 until 26 August 2017, and in an official capacity from 20 April 2018 until 15 June 2020; Sapar Isakov (born 1977), who held office from 26 August 2017 until 19 April 2018; Kubatbek Boronov (born 1964), who held office from 17 June 2020 until 6 October 2020; Sadyr Japarov (born 1968), who held office from 6 October 2020 until 14 November 2020; Artem Novikov (born 1987), who held office in an acting capacity from 14 November 2020 until 3 February 2021; and Ulukbek Maripov (born 1979), who held office from 3 February 2021 until 5 May 2021.

Tursunbek Chyngyshev

Apas Jumagulov

Kubanychbek Jumaliyev

Boris Silayev

Amangeldy Muraliyev

Kurmanbek Bakiyev

Felix Kulov

Azim Isabekov

Almazbek Atambayev

Igor Chudinov

Daniar Usenov

Ömürbek Babanov

Aaly Karashev

Zhantoro Satybaldiyev

Djoomart Otorbaev

Temir Sariyev

Sooronbay Jeenbekov

Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev

Sapar Isakov

Kubatbek Boronov

Sadyr Japarov

Artem Novikov

Ulukbek Maripov