This archive report was first published on 21 October 2019.
On October 22, 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta arrived in Tokyo, Japan, to attend the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Naruhito. The President and the First Lady were special guests of Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the ceremony held at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
Emperor Naruhito, 59, officially began his reign on May 1, 2019, after his father Emperor Akihito became the first monarch to abdicate the throne in more than 200 years. Emperor Akihito, 85, received special legal permission to step down due to declining health.
The enthronement ritual, attended by over 170 Heads of State and Government, marked a significant moment in Japan's history as Emperor Naruhito ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne. The emperor serves as the head of state but has no political powers.
