His Highness the Aga Khan makes first official visit to Kenya as 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims

Nairobi, Kenya, 26 August 2025 – His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V has begun an official visit to Kenya from 25 to 27 August at the invitation of His Excellency President William Ruto. This is His Highness’s first official visit to East Africa, following his accession in February this year as the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims.

His Highness was received at State House today by President Ruto, where the two discussed the long-standing warm relations between the Ismaili Imamat and Kenya and the priorities for future cooperation.

His Highness and President Ruto signed an agreement to reaffirm the deep and long-standing partnership between the Ismaili Imamat and the Government of Kenya. A Memorandum of Understanding on General Cooperation was also signed to deepen cooperation on issues such as environmental conservation, climate change, urban rehabilitation and cultural heritage. The agreements support Kenya’s priorities for the coming years, which seek to stimulate grassroots economic activity, create opportunities and improve livelihoods for all Kenyans.

“This moment is both historic and symbolic,” said President Ruto. “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.” Read President Ruto's speech.

"Our goal is to work alongside the Government as you tackle the emerging challenges of climate change, urban regeneration and delivery of public services,” said His Highness the Aga Khan. “Our approach will be to ensure that our programmes are meaningfully aligned with Kenya’s national priorities and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. As in the past, we will continue to mobilise not only our own institutional capacity and resources, but also those of our international partners and investors, for Kenya’s benefit." Read His Highness the Aga Khan's speech.

Also at State House, President Ruto formally conferred upon His Highness the Aga Khan Kenya’s highest civilian honour, the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (C.G.H.). The Award recognises “distinguished and outstanding services to the nation,” and was first announced in March 2025.

A century of partnership rooted in shared vision

For more than 100 years, the Ismaili Imamat and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) have been trusted partners in Kenya’s progress. Together, they have strengthened institutions, transformed lives and contributed to Kenya’s social and economic development across generations. Today, AKDN reaches more than 27 million people across all parts of Kenya. Some examples of AKDN’s engagement in Kenya are as follows:

• AKDN is one of Kenya’s largest private employers, with over 14,000 Kenyan staff – reaching millions through its work in education, health, economic development and environmental stewardship.

• Education initiatives date back to 1918 and include the Aga Khan Schools and the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa, which serve over 5,000 students. Additionally, the Aga Khan Foundation provides quality education for marginalised children by supporting 366 public primary schools, benefitting nearly 160,000 students, more than 3,000 teachers and educators, and 9,000 parents in some of the most remote parts of the country.

• In health, AKDN’s facilities comprising the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi (the leading referral hospital in East Africa), ISO 9001-certified hospitals in Mombasa and Kisumu, 34 health centres and over 50 outreach centres provide critical services to over a million patients annually. AKDN also strengthens Kenya’s healthcare system by training thousands of nurses, midwives and doctors.

• Through the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, AKDN seeks to create profitable, sustainable enterprises to catalyse growth, employment and innovation. AKDN for-profit entities include Jubilee Insurance, Diamond Trust Bank, Serena Hotels and the portfolio of businesses that form Industrial Promotion Services.

• On the environment and climate resilience, AKDN has planted more than 12 million trees across Kenya and is advancing a wide-ranging agenda, including the Indian Ocean Coastal Regeneration Initiative, which is restoring marine ecosystems, regenerating adjacent farmland and strengthening the resilience of coastal communities.

AKDN’s enduring partnership with Kenya was previously recognised in 2007, when His Late Highness Aga Khan IV was honoured with the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (C.G.H.) by President Mwai Kibaki. His Highness Aga Khan V seeks to build on the commitment of his father.

NOTES

About the Ismaili Imamat

Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him and his family) was the last and final Messenger of God. The Shia interpretation of Islam holds that during his lifetime, upon divine command, the Prophet designated his cousin and son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib (may peace be upon him) as the leader of the Muslim community. According to Shia Muslims, the office of religious leadership, or Imamat, continues in perpetuity. The Ismaili Imamat is a hereditary office in succession from the first Imam, Hazrat Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, who was married to Hazrat Bibi Fatima a-Zahra, the Prophet’s daughter and only surviving child. For Shia Ismaili Muslims, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan is the 50th hereditary Imam in direct descent from the Prophet Muhammad.

In the Muslim tradition, the Imam not only leads in the interpretation of the faith, but also in the effort to improve the security and quality of life of his community and of the wider societies within which it lives.

About the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN)

AKDN operates across more than 30 countries with a mission to improve the quality of life – regardless of faith or background – through investments in education, health, culture, the environment and economic development. In Kenya, its century-long presence continues to empower communities, strengthen systems and foster sustainable development.

Media contact:

Christopher Wilton-Steer
[email protected]