Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, has arrived in Kenya for his first official visit.

His Highness was received on Monday evening by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi.

The visit marks his first official trip to Kenya since succeeding his late father, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, in February 2025.

Mudavadi, who also serves as Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, was joined by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale for the reception. 

The visit comes at the invitation of President William Ruto and is aimed at strengthening areas of collaboration, particularly through the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), which has long supported Kenya in education, health, media, economic development, and environmental initiatives.

Prince Rahim’s accession comes following the passing of Aga Khan IV on February 4 2025, in Lisbon, at age 88. 

Aga Khan IV served as the 49th hereditary Imam for nearly seven decades—from 1957, when he was named his successor at age 20, until his death—guiding the Ismaili community and leading the AKDN across multiple sectors globally.

A native of Nairobi in his early years, Aga Khan IV established an enduring legacy in Kenya through projects like the Aga Khan University and various health and cultural institutions, galvanising development and fostering pluralism.

 His death ushered in a new era under Aga Khan V, whose first visit to Kenya underscores continuity in the long-standing partnership between the Ismaili Imamat and Kenya.

He was also remembered as a global philanthropist and racehorse enthusiast who spent parts of his childhood in Nairobi and laid the foundation for numerous development initiatives in Kenya, including schools, hospitals, and media institutions.