President William Ruto has conferred Kenya’s highest civilian honours on two prominent members of the Aga Khan family for their contributions to development initiatives in the country.
A gazette notice dated March 7, 2025 announced that His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V and Princess Zahra Aga Khan had been awarded the Order of the Golden Heart.
Prince Rahim received the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (C.G.H.), while Princess Zahra was honoured as the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (E.G.H.).
The awards recognize their service, particularly through the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), which has been instrumental in key sectors such as health, education, and infrastructure.
According to the notice, the honours were conferred on February 28, 2025.
The Order of the Golden Heart has three categories: Chief (C.G.H.), Elder (E.G.H.), and Moran (M.G.H.).
The C.G.H., awarded to Prince Rahim, is typically reserved for heads of state or outstanding global leaders, while the E.G.H., received by Princess Zahra, recognizes individuals who have provided exceptional service to Kenya.
The M.G.H. is often given to military officers or other distinguished contributors in various fields.
For decades, the Aga Khan family has played a key role in Kenya’s progress. The late Aga Khan IV, who passed away earlier this year, left a lasting impact through various development projects in the country and beyond.
The awards reflect both his legacy and the ongoing work of his children.
Prince Rahim, born in Geneva in 1971, is the eldest son of the late Aga Khan IV. After earning degrees from Brown University and IESE Business School, he took on leadership roles in AKDN, focusing on environmental and climate-related initiatives.
Following his father’s passing in February 2025, he became the 50th hereditary Imam of the Nizari Ismaili Muslims, assuming the title Aga Khan V.
Princess Zahra, the eldest daughter of Aga Khan IV, has dedicated her career to development work.
A graduate of Harvard University, she has been deeply involved in AKDN’s operations, holding key roles in institutions like Following his father’s passing in February 2025, he became the 50th hereditary Imam of the Nizari Ismaili Muslims, assuming the title Aga Khan V.
Princess Zahra, the eldest daughter of Aga Khan IV, has dedicated her career to development work.
A graduate of Harvard University, she has been deeply involved in AKDN’s operations.