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President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday donned a highly-formal tailcoat as he attended the enthronement of Japan's Emperor Naruhito.
It was a rare public appearance of the President in the traditional white-tie Western regalia. It would seem it was the advised dress code as many of the invited guests also decked themselves in the coat.
President Kenyatta, who was accompanied by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, was among the 170 world leaders who attended the historic event which was conducted in traditional Japanese protocol.
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30-minute-ceremony
According to a brief from State House, the ceremony lasted 30 minutes and the dignitaries were later hosted to a banquet by Emperor Naruhuti and his wife Empress Masako.
“The presence of His Excellency the President and Her Excellency the First Lady at this very important ceremony for Japan is a reflection of the time-tested relationship between Kenya and Japan that has grown stronger over the years,” Kenya’s Ambassador to Japan Solomon Maina stated.
The enthronement of the new emperor is the climax of a long and detailed succession process that started on May 1 this year, when Emperor Naruhito took over the throne from his father and predecessor Emperor Akihito who relinquished the position he held for close to 30 years.
According to available records, Emperor Emeritus Akihito is the first monarch in Japan’s royal history to abdicate in more than 200 years, making the enthronement event a once-in-a-lifetime ceremony for many Japanese citizens.