His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, has received Kenya’s highest state honour the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (C.G.H.) from President William Ruto.
The award was conferred on Tuesday at State House, Nairobi, during a ceremony that also featured high-level bilateral talks. Discussions focused on reinforcing the long-standing partnership between Kenya and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), while opening new avenues of collaboration to impact millions of people across different sectors.
Prince Rahim arrived in Nairobi on Monday evening, marking his first official visit to Kenya since assuming leadership of the Ismaili community earlier this year, following the death of his father, the late Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV, in February 2025.
According to the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, the Prince’s three-day visit was at the invitation of President Ruto and was primarily centred on the state investiture ceremony. However, the ministry noted that the visit also carries broader significance in advancing relations between Kenya and the Ismaili Imamat.
“The bilateral discussions will further strengthen cooperation between the Government of Kenya and the Ismaili Imamat,” a statement from the ministry read. “This will enhance the work of the Aga Khan Development Network, which has a wide footprint in Kenya through education and healthcare institutions, financial services, and the hospitality industry.”
Following the honour ceremony and discussions, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed to formally recognise the Ismaili Imamat as a legal entity under Kenyan law. This recognition will affirm the Imamat’s capacity to engage in international relations with the Kenyan state, in line with the customary law of hereditary succession governing the Shia Ismaili Imams.
