Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-02-16 16:56:00
Princess Zahra Aga Khan had the opportunity to meet both President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto during her visit to Nairobi. The purpose of these meetings was to explore opportunities for collaboration and mutual support in advancing various initiatives in the country.
The meetings, held at State House in Nairobi and the Serena Hotel, provided a platform to discuss the long-standing development partnership between the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the government of Kenya. This partnership aims to improve the quality of life for Kenyans and explore areas of future cooperation.
Over the years, AKDN agencies and Kenya have closely collaborated in various fields including industry, tourism, financial services, clean energy, media, health, education, community development, and infrastructure.
President Ruto acknowledged the significant contributions of AKDN to Kenya’s development and expressed his government’s support to strengthen the collaboration. He also emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in the development agenda.
In her meeting with the First Lady, Princess Zahra Aga Khan discussed the advancement of women’s economic empowerment, healthcare, and education, which are core areas of collaboration between AKDN and the government.
Mrs. Ruto highlighted the importance of private investment as an indispensable component for Kenya’s development journey, complementing the efforts of the government and driving economic diversification, employment opportunities, infrastructure enhancement, and sustainable growth.
Princess Zahra is on a six-day visit to Kenya to attend the global convocation ceremony of the Aga Khan University and to visit various AKDN projects. As the longest-serving member of AKU’s Board of Trustees, she will speak at the ceremony on behalf of the AKU’s Chancellor, His Highness the Aga Khan, and its Board. More than 730 students across four countries will graduate this year, and the ceremony will be attended by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Education, Ezekiel Machogu, on behalf of President Ruto.
During her visit, Princess Zahra is also expected to attend the 20th-anniversary commemoration of the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa and visit a number of health and education institutions across the country.
The AKDN is a global network of development agencies, institutions, and programs operating in multiple countries across various social and economic sectors to improve the quality of life of the populations where it is present. With over 100 years of contributing to the development of East Africa, the Network has the largest regional presence of agencies, institutions, and initiatives designed to create opportunities for beneficiaries to improve their quality of life and become self-reliant.
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