Kenyan President William Ruto has bestowed the country’s highest honor, the insignia of Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (C.G.H.), upon the President of the African Development Bank Group, Akinwumi Adesina.
Adesina thus becomes the 20th recipient of this distinction, created in 1967 and first awarded to Kenya’s founding father and former president, Jomo Kenyatta.
“It is an honor I will cherish all my life,” Adesina said. “It will constantly remind me that the country I love so much, Kenya, loves me in return, appreciates and celebrates my leadership at the African Development Bank, and values and honors the Bank’s tremendous contributions to its development. I accept this honor with great humility.”
During the investiture ceremony at Kenya’s State House in Nairobi, President Ruto praised Adesina’s outstanding contributions, his dedication, and his passion for the economic development of Kenya and Africa as a whole.
“You are extraordinary. You are a great leader. You deserve this honor and this investiture,” Ruto congratulated Adesina.
The two leaders have enjoyed a warm relationship for over twenty years, dating back to when Akinwumi Adesina lived in Kenya and worked for the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). At the time, William Ruto was Kenya’s Minister of Agriculture. Both recalled their joint efforts to provide subsidies to farmers, despite opposition from some donors and international financial institutions.
President Ruto stated that under his leadership, he has continued the same policy of granting subsidies to farmers, which has resulted in increased food production in Kenya.
“Our maize production rose from 40 million to 70 million bags last year. Our tea sales generated over 220 billion shillings (about 1.7 billion dollars), the highest revenue ever recorded,” he added. “I am proud of the journey we’ve taken together over the past ten years; I can see the results. Kenyans are feeling the benefits,” President Ruto said, addressing Akinwumi Adesina, who was accompanied by his wife, Grace Yemisi Adesina.
In its citation, the Kenyan government described Adesina as a distinguished economist and a global leader in development.
“He has transformed the African Development Bank into a globally recognized institution for financial innovation and developmental impact, and increased the Bank’s capital from 93 billion dollars to 318 billion dollars,” the citation read.
“I am deeply moved by your incredible kindness! What a great honor! What a rare privilege! What a historic recognition!” Adesina said in his acceptance speech.
Other recipients of this distinction include globally renowned leaders such as former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, South Africa’s Nelson Mandela, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, and Kenyan presidents Daniel arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta, as well as William Ruto himself.
