Kabogo, Oduor, Kinyanjui get State Honours from Ruto

By Newsflash Desk

President William Ruto on Thursday, 12 December 2025, marked this year’s Jamhuri Day celebrations by conferring State Honours on hundreds of distinguished Kenyans in recognition of their exceptional service to the nation.

The awards, outlined in a special Kenya Gazette notice published on 11 December 2025, highlight extraordinary contributions across public administration, national leadership, security, humanitarian work and community service.

Among the most prominent were Attorney-General Dorcas Agik Oduor, ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo, and Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui, who were decorated with the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (E.G.H.), the nation’s second-highest civilian honour.

Top honours for distinguished national leaders

The Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya—reserved for exemplary national service—saw seven recipients awarded the E.G.H. These included Dr. Kristina Pratt Kenyatta, AG Dorcas Oduor, ICT CS William Kabogo, Trade CS Lee Kinyanjui, Dr. Deborah Barasa, Patrick Ole Ntutu and Dr. Mohamed Jaffer.

The recognition celebrates their outstanding national leadership and transformative roles. AG Oduor was feted for steering key legal reforms and strengthening the justice sector.

ICT CS Kabogo was honoured for championing digital transformation initiatives, expanding ICT infrastructure and promoting innovation across government. Trade CS Kinyanjui was recognised for his work in enhancing trade competitiveness, supporting industrial growth and spearheading market expansion programmes.

Two senior military leaders—Lt. Gen. David Kipkemboi Ketter and Maj. Gen. Bernard Waliaula—received the Moran of the Order of the Golden Heart (M.G.H.) for distinguished military service.

Honours for legislators, clergy & administrators

A substantial number of MPs, religious leaders, senior civil servants and security chiefs featured in the Order of the Burning Spear, which consists of three classes: Chief (C.B.S.), Elder (E.B.S.) and Moran (M.B.S.).

In the Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (C.B.S.) category, prominent awardees included Most Rev. Zacchaeus Okoth, Hon. John Waluke, Hon. Rozaah Buyu, Hon. Otiende Amollo, Sen. Ledama Olekina, IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan, and MPs such as Gertrude Mbeyu, Charles Kamuren, and Kassim Tandaza. Senior military officers, including Maj. Gen. Luka Kutto, Maj. Gen. George Okumu and Maj. Gen. Peter Githinji, were also honoured. The Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (E.B.S.) list recognised senior judges, religious leaders, administrators, diplomats and security officials. Those honoured include Justice George Odunga, S/AIG Wanderi Mwangi, Amb. Koki Muli Grignon, Kilukumi Kioko and Dr. Nancy Baraza. The Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (M.B.S.) featured hundreds of senior military officers, police commanders, medical specialists and distinguished public servants, among them Col. Joseph Ireri Kariara, Dr. Ali Abdullahi Abdi, Grace Okara and Lady Justice Lucy Nyambura Gacheru. The President also honoured more than 200 individuals with the Order of the Grand Warrior (O.G.W.), recognising exemplary performance in policing, healthcare, public administration, education and community development. Recipients included Maj. Douglas Mwangi, CP Martin Omumbo, Dr. Tabitha Mogonchi and Prof. Esther Kioko.

Commendations for outstanding public service and heroism

Additional awards included the Silver Star (S.S.), Distinguished Service Medal (D.S.M.), and Head of State’s Commendation (H.S.C.) for both military and civilian divisions.

The Silver Star list featured men and women celebrated for acts of courage, exceptional skill and professional excellence. Awardees included Sgt. Erastus Misikhu Lugalia, Capt. Ian Oduor Owuor and Lt. Oscar Mwita Omahe. Others, such as Sgt. Apiyo Lawrence Onyango and Mr. Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai, received the honour posthumously. The Head of State’s Commendation (Military Division) recognised dozens of servicemen and women across the Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service and Kenya Prisons Service for their discipline, exemplary performance and dedication. Recipients included WOII Adam Mwangi, Miss Wendy Noel Ouma, Maj. Victor Kurgat and Rev. Jackson Alukusia. In the civilian division, individuals were honoured for outstanding contributions to social welfare, community development, humanitarian work, professional excellence and national cohesion.

They included Winfred Kavenyi Musyoka, Rasna Warah, Prof. Symon Guthua, Dr. Andrew Ideidei and Hon. Hussein Abdirashid, among many others. In his notice, President Ruto emphasised that the national honours reflect “distinguished and outstanding services rendered to the nation in various capacities,” reaffirming the State’s commitment to recognising excellence, patriotism and service. This year’s Jamhuri Day awards highlight Kenya’s diverse pool of achievers—from top government officials and security commanders to health professionals, educators, clergy and community champions—whose contributions continue to shape the country’s progress.