Princess Zahra decorated with one of Kenya’s highest civilian honours

13 February 2026, Nairobi

Princess Zahra was decorated with the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (E.G.H.), one of Kenya’s highest civilian honours, in recognition of her distinguished service to the nation’s health, education, and socio-economic development.

President William Samoei Ruto presented the award at State House in Nairobi, praising Princess Zahra’s leadership and the enduring partnership between Kenya and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).

“Today, we honour you not only for your leadership, but also for your friendship and partnership,” President Ruto said. “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 was in Kenya to preside over the Aga Khan University’s convocation ceremony in her capacity as Pro-Chancellor. In accepting the honour, she paid tribute to the thousands of AKDN staff and volunteers working across the country.

“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 said.

She also acknowledged the Jamat’s contributions to Kenya’s progress over more than a century, and reaffirmed AKDN’s continued commitment to advancing healthcare, education, economic development, and quality of life across the country.

The award citation specifically recognised her “faithful service, steadfast partnership with our nation, and enduring contribution to the advancement of health, education, and socio economic development for the people of Kenya and for humanity at large.”

“[She] stands before us today not merely as a leader of institutions, but as a quiet architect of human dignity,” the citation continued. “Her life’s work reflects a rare constancy of purpose: to serve, to uplift, and to build systems that endure beyond a single generation.”

This honour continues a tradition of recognition for the Ismaili Imamat’s work in Kenya. Mawlana Shah Karim received the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (C.G.H.) in 2007 from President Mwai Kibaki, while Mawlana Hazar Imam received the same honour during his visit to Kenya in August 2025.

First Lady Rachel Ruto also addressed the ceremony, thanking Princess Zahra for her “commitment, steady leadership, and unwavering belief in the potential of our people.”

Princess Zahra has been actively involved in AKDN’s work and governance for more than three decades. Appointed Pro-Chancellor of the Aga Khan University in 2025 after serving as a Trustee since 2003, she also serves as 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.

A century of partnership in Kenya
For more than 100 years, AKDN agencies have been trusted partners in Kenya’s progress. 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.

Sources: Aga Khan Development Network and TheIsmail