Prince Rahim Aga Khan V awarded Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart
The award was presented during a ceremony held at State House, Nairobi, on Tuesday, August 26.
President William Ruto has conferred the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (CGH), Kenya’s highest civilian honour, on His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, recognising him for his exceptional service to the country and humanity through the work of the Aga Khan Development Network.
The award was presented during a ceremony held at State House, Nairobi, on Tuesday, August 26.
President Ruto praised Prince Rahim for the lasting contributions made by the Aga Khan institutions in Kenya, saying the recognition reflects decades of partnership, commitment, and service to the people.
The CGH is the highest award in Kenya and is typically reserved for sitting heads of state or outstanding international figures whose impact extends beyond borders.
Prince Rahim, the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslim community, received the honour just months after taking over leadership from his father, the late Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, who passed away in February 2025.
Speaking after receiving the award, Prince Rahim Aga Khan V expressed appreciation for the recognition and pledged to continue working closely with Kenya.
“I thank you, your excellency, for your hospitality and the honour you have conferred on me today. I accept this decoration for the recognition of the past but also as a pledge for the future, a pledge to continue working side by side with the people of Kenya in pursuit of a more inclusive, equitable, and hopeful tomorrow,” said Rahim.
During the same event, President Ruto also presented Princess Zahra Aga Khan, a member of the Aga Khan Development Network Board of Directors, with the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (EGH), in recognition of her role in advancing development initiatives in the country.
This marks the third time in recent months that President Ruto has used the CGH honour to highlight global figures contributing to progress in Kenya and beyond.
On March 7, the President honoured African Development Bank head Akinwumi Adesina with the same award, followed by former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in July.
Prince Rahim arrived in Kenya on Monday, August 26, and was received by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
He is expected to engage in high-level talks with President Ruto focused on deepening cooperation between the Government of Kenya and the Ismaili Imamat.
As part of the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed between Kenya and the Ismaili Imamat to formalise ongoing collaboration in areas such as health, education, and economic inclusion.
Prince Rahim became the 50th Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslim community earlier this year following the death of his father, continuing a long tradition of spiritual leadership tied to development and humanitarian work across the world.
