A file photo of Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka with The Aga Khan IV, His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini./KALONZO MUSYOKA/XWiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has joined the growing list of leaders who have mourned the death of His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network.
His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, popular as The Aga Khan IV, died at the age of 88, in Lisbon, Portugal and his death was announced by the network on Tuesday.
He was the 49th hereditary Iman of the Shia Ismaili Muslims.
“At this time of mourning, I send my heartfelt condolences to the entire IsmaiIi community worldwide,” Kalonzo said in a statement on Wednesday.
He accompanied his message of solace with highlights of his personal encounter with the Al-Hussaini, as well as some of his key achievements in the health and media sectors.
“I first met His Highness when I served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. It was during this time that Kenya granted diplomatic recognition to the mainly philanthropic work by the Aga Khan. The establishment of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) — which is a major development aid network — has since provided numerous benefits to the country,” Kalonzo said.
Among them is the establishment of the Aga Khan Hospital and Aga Khan University.
Aga Khan IV first established the Aga Khan University in Pakistan in 1983 as part of the AKDN to improve the quality of life in the developing world and beyond through world-class teaching, research, and healthcare delivery. Its Kenyan and other East African subsidiaries were established in 2000.
“As Minister of Education, I toured Pakistan at His Highness' invitation. I visited The Aga Khan Hospital in Karachi before flying to Pakistan's Northern Territories, notably Hunza Kingdom—the Aga Khan's home. Soon after, I wrote a Cabinet memo that was approved, resulting in the formation of The Aga Khan Hospital as a teaching institution with the first nursing faculty,” Kalonzo said.
The Aga Khan Hospital came 42 years after the hospital first opened its doors as a community hospital on September 10, 1958, in Upper Hill, Nairobi.
The Aga Khan University has subsequently expanded to become a degree-granting institution, and The Aga Khan Hospital has established itself as a premier medical hospital servicing not only Kenya but the entire region, Kalonzo observed.
Kalonzo also mentioned The Aga Khan’s significant investments in the tourism, banking, education and media and communication sectors of Kenya’s economy.
“His Highness also contributed significantly to our freedom cause by giving Africans a platform through the Daily Nation newspaper. He also played a significant part in East African integration and was well-known for his efforts to promote peace and human understanding around the world,” Kalonzo said.
Aga Khan succeeded his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan III, as Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims in 1957 at the age of 20 and dedicated his efforts to improving the quality of life of the most vulnerable populations across the world.
Aga Khan University Hospital believes that quality healthcare services should be available closer to where people live and work.
Towards this,AKDN hasestablished a network of 53 outreach medical centres spread across Kenya, offering general medical services, specialist clinics and diagnostic services.
