Your Highness,

On behalf of the Government and the people of Kenya, I extend my warmest congratulations to you, Your Highness Prince Rahim Al Hussaini Aga Khan V, upon assuming the esteemed leadership as the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims.

I also take great pride in congratulating you on receiving the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (C.G.H.), Kenya’s highest civilian honour, a recognition of your personal commitment and the Aga Khan Development Network’s (AKDN) distinguished service to the people of Kenya.

I equally congratulate Princess Zahra Aga Khan on being awarded the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (E.G.H.), an honour that reflects her outstanding leadership and lifelong dedication to advancing health, education, and social development here in Kenya and around the world.

This moment is both historic and symbolic. It affirms Kenya’s deep appreciation of the enduring legacy of the Ismaili Imamat, whose service to humanity has long been a pillar of our national journey. For decades, the Aga Khan Development Network has been a trusted ally in Kenya’s development: establishing hospitals and schools that save lives and nurture talent; investing in hospitality, media, and insurance to spur growth and create jobs; and advancing cultural and environmental initiatives that safeguard our heritage and strengthen communities.

These contributions align seamlessly with our Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, which is anchored in equity, opportunity, and dignity for all Kenyans.

Your Highness, we recall with immense gratitude the remarkable contributions of your late father, His Highness Aga Khan IV. His enduring devotion to improving quality of life and his close partnership with Kenya since independence left an immeasurable legacy. We are confident that under your stewardship, the Imamat will not only continue this noble mission, but also open new frontiers of cooperation between us.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on General Cooperation between the Government of Kenya and the Ismaili Imamat was a major milestone in our relations. It laid the groundwork for even deeper collaboration in health care, education, environmental conservation, climate action, and cultural preservation.

Already, the impact of the Aga Khan Development Network in Kenya is both vast and transformative. Its health facilities receive over 900,000 patient visits every year, providing quality care to families across the nation. With three major hospitals and more than 70 health centres, the Aga Khan Development Network has built a healthcare presence that reaches deep into communities, offering maternal and child health services that save countless lives. Beyond treatment, its commitment to higher education and training is equipping our doctors, nurses, and specialists with world-class skills and strengthening Kenya’s healthcare workforce.

Additionally, I am pleased to note the recent collaboration between the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the Aga Khan University Hospital to expand access to lifesaving kidney transplants and advanced cardiac surgeries. Under this framework, SHA provides financial and welfare support to eligible patients, while the university hospital delivers specialised medical care. This ensures that vulnerable Kenyans receive not only surgery, but also pre-operative assessment and post-operative care, while being shielded from catastrophic health expenses.

In education, the Aga Khan Foundation has supported nearly 1,000 public schools, benefitting hundreds of thousands of pupils and teachers. Initiatives like Schools2030, which Kenya co-hosted this year, reaffirm our shared commitment to innovation and excellence in education.

Equally impressive is the development network’s environmental work. In just three years, 1.5 million trees have been planted in Kenya, much of it in the Mau Forest, as part of a wider global programme that has planted over 100 million trees in Asia and Africa.

As we celebrate this landmark moment, we equally look to new opportunities to deepen our collaboration in areas at the heart of Kenya’s transformation. We welcome your partnership in the Affordable Housing Programme, a flagship initiative that will deliver safe and dignified shelter to millions, while creating thousands of jobs, stimulating industries, and expanding opportunities for small enterprises.

We also seek to work closely with you on the Nairobi River Regeneration through the Climate WorkX programme, which is already engaging 40,000 Kenyans in Nairobi in meaningful work to restore ecosystems, clean rivers and create sustainable urban spaces.

These initiatives are reviving our capital city, providing young people with real employment opportunities, and positioning Nairobi and other urban centres as global models of green, resilient renewal. With the Aga Khan Development Network’s proven expertise in conservation, cultural heritage, and community-driven development, I am confident we can expand the scale and impact of these initiatives so that climate action delivers both ecological restoration and human dignity.

Your Highness, the people of Kenya hold you and the Imamat in the highest esteem. Today, we honour you, not only as a leader, but also as a partner and friend. We do so with confidence that the bonds between us will grow ever stronger, driving forward a shared vision of dignity, justice, and prosperity for our people, our region and the world.

I thank you.