President William Ruto conferred Kenya’s highest state honour, the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (CGH), on former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The award symbolises the nation’s highest appreciation for distinguished service and impact at both national and international levels.
The ceremony took place at State House on Tuesday, where President Ruto praised Ban for a lifetime of global service, especially during his time leading the UN from 2007 to 2016.
“We recognise you for standing up for justice, for women, for peace, and especially for your leadership on climate,” Ruto said during the event.Ban, who has long had ties to Kenya through his diplomatic work, called the country his “second home” and said the honour reaffirmed their shared values.
“I’m truly grateful to the people of Kenya and to President Ruto. This means a lot,” he said.Ruto noted Ban’s contributions went beyond the UN, from pushing climate action to supporting developing nations through global crises.
He also highlighted Ban’s efforts to address hunger and resource gaps during the global financial downturn.
The event was also attended by Chief of Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri, a gesture that underscored the national significance of the award.
