Ruto confers Elder of the Golden Heart on Princess Zara Aga Khan

President William Ruto has awarded the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart to Princess Zara Aga Khan in recognition of her exemplary leadership and longstanding contributions to health, education, and social development in Kenya.

During the investiture ceremony at State House in Nairobi, President Ruto commended Princess Zara’s work through the Aga Khan Development Network, noting its significant investments in schools, hospitals, and community programs across the country.

He said these initiatives have nurtured talent, saved lives, and generated thousands of employment opportunities nationwide.

“This honor recognizes your exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing health, education, and social development — pillars that uphold human dignity and drive shared prosperity,” the President said.

He added that Kenya greatly values the enduring legacy of the Ismaili Imams and their strong partnership in the nation’s development journey.

President Ruto also reflected on the contributions of Princess Zara’s late father, His Highness Aga Khan IV, noting that his lifelong devotion to improving quality of life left an enduring mark on Kenya.

He expressed confidence that under the continued leadership of Princess Zara and the Aga Khan Development Network, the noble mission of social and economic development would flourish and open new avenues for collaboration, particularly in initiatives aligned with Kenya’s national development agenda.

The President specifically highlighted partnerships in affordable housing, which aims to deliver safe and dignified homes while stimulating employment and supporting small enterprises, as well as the Nairobi River Regeneration initiative through the Climate Works Program, which provides sustainable urban jobs for young people.

First Lady Rachael Ruto also commended Princess Zara, emphasizing the transformative power of her leadership in strengthening local systems and empowering women and girls.

She noted that her office’s initiatives, including the Voice of Children program and clean cooking programs, complement the Aga Khan Development Network’s work by supporting vulnerable communities and fostering climate-smart livelihoods.

“Princess Zara, your work and our initiatives share a common goal of building resilience for communities,” the First Lady said, inviting continued collaboration to amplify impact and create stronger, healthier, and more inclusive communities across Kenya.

The Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (E.G.H.) is the second-highest national honour in Kenya. It is part of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya which was established in 1966 to recognize extraordinary leadership, patriotism, and distinguished service to the nation.