Ruto pays tribute to Aga Khan as an extraordinary leader

President William Ruto paid tribute to the Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 88.

Ruto described him as an exceptional leader who consistently went beyond the seemingly impossible to support and uplift the vulnerable.

“We are saddened by the passing of  The Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims. He was an extraordinary leader who went beyond what seemed impossible to help the vulnerable — through his charities in hospitals and schools. Our thoughts are with the family of His Highness and the wider Ismaili community” he said.

Prince Karim Aga Khan, the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network, led charitable initiatives that ran hundreds of hospitals, educational, and cultural projects, primarily in the developing world.

In Kenya, AKDN is home to the Nation Media Group, Aga Khan University, Aga Khan Hospitals, and various schools. Other notable investments include Diamond Trust Bank (DTB), Jubilee Insurance, Farmers Choice Ltd, and Premier Food Industries, among others.

The Ismailis, a Muslim sect, have a worldwide population of about 15 million, including 500,000 in Pakistan. There are also large populations in India, Afghanistan and Africa.

Prince Karim Aga Khan succeeded his grandfather as imam of the Ismaili Muslims in 1957 at the age of 20.