Kenya and Ismaili Imamat Deepen Historic Partnership, Launch New Collaborations on Housing and Environment
NAIROBI – The longstanding and fruitful partnership between the Government of Kenya and the Shia Ismaili Imamat is set to expand into new critical areas of national development, including affordable housing and the regeneration of the Nairobi River.
The announcement followed a meeting at State House, Nairobi, between His Excellency the President and His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan, who was hosted as the newly appointed leader of the global Ismaili community.
In a statement, the government highlighted the profound impact of the existing collaboration, which has been a cornerstone of progress in key sectors. The partnership has been instrumental in the health sector, delivering facilities that serve more than 900,000 patients every year. In education, it has provided vital support to nearly 1,000 public schools across the country. A significant environmental contribution was also noted: the planting of an impressive 1.5 million trees in Kenya over the last three years.
Looking forward, the two parties agreed to extend this collaboration into the government’s flagship Affordable Housing Programme. This initiative is poised to provide safe and secure homes for Kenyans while simultaneously creating thousands of much-needed jobs.
A major focus will also be on the Nairobi River Regeneration project under the Climate WorX initiative. This ambitious effort, which already engages 40,000 Kenyans in hands-on environmental conservation, aims to restore vital ecosystems and rejuvenate the nation’s capital city.
The State House meeting also served as an occasion for national recognition. The President congratulated Prince Rahim on his recent assumption of leadership within the Ismaili Imamat. Furthermore, the President honored him with Kenya’s highest civilian award, the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (C.G.H.), in recognition of his and the Imamat’s service to the nation.
In a separate but related honour, Princess Zahra Aga Khan was awarded the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (E.G.H.) for her lifelong and dedicated service to improving health, education, and social development in Kenya.
The expanded partnership signals a continued shared commitment to tackling Kenya’s most pressing challenges and building a more prosperous and sustainable future for all its citizens.
