President Uhuru Kenyatta was among scores of foreign dignitaries who were invited to the enthronement of Japan’s Emperor Naruhito.
State House shared photos of President Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta during the marking of the once-in-a-generation ceremony attended by representative from around 180 countries.
“Japan has been one of Kenya’s outstanding partners in the development of geothermal power resources especially the Olkaria complex in Naivasha, a project that has earned the country international recognition as an African leader in renewable energy development,” read the State House Twitter post accompanying the images of Mr Kenyatta and the First Lady as well as Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The President hailed Japan for its support of development agenda in “renewable energy, infrastructure, water, health, education and technology transfer among other sectors.”
Emperor Naruhito completed his ascension to the Chrysanthemum throne on Tuesday in a ceremony steeped in the traditions that have stood for 2,000 years.
His gradual ascension to the throne started when his father abdicated the throne earlier in 2019.
The main event during the enthronement took place in the Imperial Palace’s Pine Room, where according to the AFP, royal attendants drew back purple curtains hanging from two heavily adorned structures housing the imperial thrones, revealing the emperor and empress standing inside.
“I hereby declare my enthronement at home and abroad,” Naruhito said, dressed in a voluminous draped robe topped with a copper overcoat.
