An akim (Kazakh: әкім, Kazakh pronunciation: [ækɘm], pl. әкімдер / äkimder; Kyrgyz: аким; Russian: аким, Russian pronunciation: [ɒkɪm]) is the head of a local government in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Akim is derived from the Arabic word حاكم hakim, which means "ruler" or "governor".