Nairobi, Kenya, 13 February 2026 – Princess Zahra Aga Khan was today decorated with the national honour of Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (E.G.H.) by His Excellency President William Samoei Ruto, in recognition of her distinguished and outstanding services to the nation.

The Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart is among Kenya’s highest civilian honours.

The award citation reads: “In recognition of her faithful service, her steadfast partnership with our nation, and her enduring contribution to the advancement of health, education, and socioeconomic development for the people of Kenya and for humanity at large, Princess Zahra Aga Khan is hereby conferred with the honour of Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (E.G.H.).”

In his remarks at State House, President Ruto paid tribute to Princess Zahra, saying: “Today, we honour you not only for your leadership, but also for your friendship and partnership. We do so with confidence that the bonds between us will grow even stronger, advancing our shared pursuit of dignity, justice and prosperity for our nation, our region and the world.”

Princess Zahra has long been involved in development projects in health, education, human capital development and the promotion of inclusive, sustainable growth. She is in Kenya to preside over the convocation ceremony of the Aga Khan University, in her capacity as Pro-Chancellor of the University. Her visit underscores the enduring relationship between Kenya and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), rooted in shared commitments to opportunity, dignity and progress.

“During my late father’s life, he built many, many institutions in this country in many different sectors, and I would like to accept this award on behalf of the over 15,000 AKDN employees and many volunteers who live here,” Princess Zahra stated in her acceptance remarks.

AKDN’s partnership with Kenya was previously recognised in 2007, when His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV was honoured with the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (C.G.H.) by President Mwai Kibaki. His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V received the same honour as his father on his visit to Kenya in August 2025 from President Ruto.

The Aga Khan Development Network remains committed to supporting Kenya’s development priorities and to contributing to a future defined by sustainability, equity and shared prosperity.

At the ceremony at State House in the nation’s capital, First Lady Rachel Ruto also thanked Princess Zahra: “[T]his honour reflects our gratitude for your commitment, your steady leadership and your unwavering belief in the potential of our people,” she said.

NOTES

Princess Zahra Aga Khan has been actively involved in the work and governance of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) for more than 30 years. In 2025, she was appointed Pro-Chancellor of the Aga Khan University after serving as a Trustee since 2003. She is a Trustee of the University of Central Asia and sits on the boards of the Aga Khan Foundation, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the Global Centre for Pluralism, an institution established by her late father in partnership with the Government of Canada.

AKDN operates across more than 30 countries with a mission to improve the quality of life – regardless of faith, race, ethnicity, or gender – through investments in education, health, culture, the environment and economic development.

A century of partnership rooted in shared vision

For more than 100 years, AKDN agencies 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. Examples of AKDN’s engagement in Kenya include:

• 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, benefiting 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.

Media contact:

Christopher Wilton-Steer
[email protected]