President William Samoei Ruto congratulates Princess Zahra at State House in Nairobi on 13 February 2026.Photo: AKDN / Linx Productions
Princess Zahra addresses guests at State House in Nairobi upon receiving the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart, one of Kenya’s highest civilian honours.Photo: AKDN / Linx Productions
President William Samoei Ruto awards the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart to Princess Zahra at State House in Nairobi on 13 February 2026.Photo: State House Kenya
President William Samoei Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto with Princess Zahra, Prince Amyn, and leaders of the Jamat and AKDN.Photo: AKDN / Linx Production
Princess Zahra was decorated today 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 is currently in Kenya to preside over the Aga Khan University 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.”
AKDN’s presence in Kenya includes education initiatives dating to 1918, healthcare facilities serving over a million patients annually, major economic enterprises, and environmental programmes that have planted more than 12 million trees across the country.
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.
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