NAIROBI — His Highness the Aga Khan was today awarded Kenya’s highest civilian honour during a ceremony at State House, where he pledged to strengthen ties between the Ismaili Imamat and the country.
The Aga Khan, who ascended to the position of Imam of the Ismaili Muslim community earlier this year, received the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart from President William Ruto. The award mirrors an honour given to his late father, Aga Khan IV, by former President Mwai Kibaki in 2007.
“This recognition carries added significance for me because my late father was also named a Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart,” he said. “I therefore accept this great honour with deep humility and gratitude.”
The Aga Khan’s remarks reflected a personal and historical bond with Kenya. He recalled how his father and uncle grew up in Nairobi, and how the Ismaili community, present in Kenya for over a century, has contributed to the country’s progress. “Kenya has always held a very special place in the hearts of my family,” he told dignitaries.
The event also saw the signing of new agreements between the Kenyan government and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a global group of institutions active in health, education, culture, and economic development.
“Our goal is to work alongside the Government as you tackle the emerging challenges of climate change, urban regeneration, and delivery of public services,” the Aga Khan said. “We will continue to mobilise our own institutional capacity and that of our international partners, for Kenya’s benefit.”
Kenya’s leadership on climate change was singled out for praise. The Aga Khan pledged more support for research and projects in areas such as coastal regeneration and environmental stewardship.
President Ruto, in turn, hailed the partnership as vital to his administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation agenda.
Closing his speech with a pledge, the Aga Khan said: “I accept this decoration as a recognition of the past, but also as a pledge for the future. A pledge to continue walking side by side with the people of Kenya in the pursuit of a more inclusive, equitable and hopeful tomorrow.”
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