David Gian Maillu (born October 19, 1939) is a Kenyan author and publisher. He is considered East Africa's most prolific writer, publishing over 60 books between 1972 and 2024.

Maillu celebrated his first success as a writer and publisher in 1973 with his thrillers Unfit for Human Consumption and My Dear Bottle. These two publications also demonstrated Maillu's versatility, with the first written in prose and the second as a long narrative poem. My Dear Bottle proved controversial as Maillu portrayed AIDS as the new scourge of Africa. These early titles appeared as 'Comb Mini Novels'; small format 3.5 x 5 inch novellas that sold for five East African shillings.

In 1974, Maillu wrote and published After 4.30, which would also prove controversial. After 4.30 is a long poem that recounts the troubled life of a single mother, Emili Katongo, who is forced into prostitution.

Later titles include the popular Benni Kamba 009 books and the 1991 Broken Drum, a 1,000-page story about a European traveler who believes Africans have AIDS just because they are African.

Most of his works are written in English and Kiswahili, and he also published the first volume of poetry in Kikamba.