Nairobi

Leader of the worldwide Dawoodi Bohra community, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin has been awarded the highest national honour of Kenya.

The president of Kenya, Dr William Ruto honoured Syedna Mufaddal with the Order of the Golden Heart on Monday.

The awarded was bestowed upon him in a special ceremony held at the State House. The award is a recognition of Syedna Mufaddal’s numerous philanthropic contributions across the world and his leadership role in interfaith dialogue as well as peace and harmony in the world.

During the ceremony President Ruto acknowledged Syedna Mufaddal’s contribution in low-cost housing in Kenya and drought-relief efforts.

Speaking about the significance of the event, a community spokesperson stated: “It is a matter of great pride for the Bohra community in Kenya to see Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin being recognised by the government for his exemplary humanitarian and charitable work. It is a testament to the deep and mutually respectful relationship the community shares with the country’s leadership as well as with the people of Kenya at large.”

Syedna Saifuddin has previously been presented with the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart award on the occasion of the inauguration of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah’s Nairobi campus in 2017, the third campus of the Dawoodi Bohra community’s premiere educational institute. The award was presented to him in recognition of his efforts for the cause of education and literacy.

The Dawoodi Bohras have called Kenya home for more than two centuries. Predominantly a business- oriented community, the Bohras have, in recent times, diversified into numerous fields and professions, most notably, medicine, law, architecture, IT and engineering among others.

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Nairobi and Mombasa are home to the largest communities in Kenya with smaller ones in Nakuru, Malindi, Lamu, Kisumu, Eldoret and Kitui.