Orders, decorations, and medals of Kenya are awarded by the

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...

"in recognition of outstanding or distinguished services rendered to the nation in various capacities and responsibilities". Awards are made by the president upon the advice of a National Honours and Awards Committee in the president's office. Individuals are nominated for awards by district committees, government ministries, religious organisations, non-governmental organisations, individuals and others. The ''Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart'' is the highest honour awarded by the Kenyan government.

Awards

* Order of the Golden Heart :*1st Class – Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (C.G.H.) :*2nd Class – Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (E.G.H.) :*3rd Class – Moran of the Order of the Golden Heart (M.G.H.) * Uhodari Medal *Order of the Burning Spear :*1st Class – Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (C.B.S.) :*2nd Class – Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (E.B.S.) :*3rd Class – Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (M.B.S.) *Order of the Grand Warrior The Order of the Grand Warrior (O.G.W) is an award presented to individuals in recognition of an outstanding service rendered to the country in different responsibilities and capacities. More importantly, it is an award presented to those who put their lives at risk to save their fellow countrymen. The recipients of the O.G.W are those who leave a lasting image on their fellow countrymen by putting their country first before their personal feelings and interests. Among the notable recipients of this award include Former Senate Speaker, Hon. David Ekwee Ethuro, former speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Justin Bedan Muturi, former leader of the majority party in the Senate, the current deputy president of Kenya, Hon. Prof. Kithure Kindiki, and the Cabinet Secretary for Environment Hon. Adan Duale. Another notable figure to receive this award is Salah Farah, a Kenyan Muslim who shielded Christians during an Al-Shabaab ambush in Mandera town in Kenya. *Distinguished Conduct Order *Distinguished Service Medal *Silver Star *Uzalendo Award *Head of State's Commendation (H.S.C.) :*Military Division :*Civilian Division

Notable recipients

Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (C.G.H)

The President of Kenya holds the position of ''Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya''. The incumbent is

William Samoei Ruto William Kipchirchir Samoei Arap Ruto (born 21 January 1967) is a Kenyan politician who is the fifth and current president of Kenya since 13 September 2022. Prior to becoming president, he served as the first elected Deputy President of Kenya, ...

. The ''Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya'' is the highest honour in Kenya, and as of 2009 the award has been bestowed on 198 people since Kenyan independence. Recipients of this award include

Yoweri Museveni Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa (born 15 September 1944) is a Ugandan politician and Officer (armed forces), military officer who is the ninth and current president of Uganda since 1986. As of 2025, he is the third-List of current state lead ...

the

Uganda Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the ...

Aga Khan IV Prince Karim al-Husseini (13 December 1936 – 4 February 2025), known as the Aga Khan IV, was the 49th Imamah, imam of Imamate in Nizari doctrine, Nizari Isma'ilism from 1957 until his death in 2025. He inherited the Imamate in Nizari doctrine ...

, Reimond Kipkesio and Syedna

Mufaddal Saifuddin Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin () is the spiritual leader, the 53rd Da'i al-Mutlaq of more than one million Dawoodi Bohras, a subgroup of the Tayyibi, Musta'li, Ismaili Shia branch of Islam. He is the second son of the 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq, M ...

, 53rd Dai al-Mutlaq of the

Dawoodi Bohra The Dawoodi Bohras are a religious denomination within the Ismā'īlī branch of Shia Islam. They number approximately one million worldwide and have settled in over 40 countries around the world. The majority of the Dawoodi Bohra community re ...

community.

Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (E.G.H)

The ''Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart'' (E.G.H.) is the second highest honour awarded by the republic of Kenyan government. On 20 April 2017, President

Uhuru Kenyatta Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta ( born 26 October 1961) is a Kenyan politician who served as the fourth president of Kenya from 2013 to 2022. The son of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president, he previously served as Prime Minister of Kenya, Deputy Pri ...

awarded the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart to His Holiness Syedna

, at the inauguration of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah in

Nairobi Nairobi is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Kenya. The city lies in the south-central part of Kenya, at an elevation of . The name is derived from the Maasai language, Maasai phrase , which translates to 'place of cool waters', a ...

. On 20 October 2019, President Kenyatta awarded the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya to

Eliud Kipchoge Eliud Kipchoge (born 5 November 1984) is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in the marathon and formerly specialized in the 5000 metres. Kipchoge is the Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon, 2016 and Athletics at th ...

for running a sub two-hour marathon in

Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...

, Austria.

Order of the Grand Warrior

Salah Farah received the award for dying trying to fend off a terrorist attack. The Kenyan President,

, said Farah "...is a costly reminder that we all have a role to protecting our freedoms." Another notable recipient is the chief principal of Moi High School Kabarak, Mrs Elisheba Cheruiyot

Bars

References

{{Decorations by country Kenya and the Commonwealth of Nations