Kenny stepped down as leader of governing party Fine Gael last month and was replaced by Varadkar, who will become the once-staunchly Catholic country's first gay premier and the youngest person ever to hold the office on Wednesday.
In a move created to heal any divisions in his own party, Varadkar on Tuesday appointed the man he defeated, Simon Coveney, as deputy leader of Fine Gael.
As it happened, it was ten years to the day that Varadkar, a Dubliner with a father from India and mother from Waterford, first took his seat in the Dáil. "For that reason, like most people in the country, I do not support abortion on request or on demand".
His path to the republic's top government job was cleared today in a Dáil vote in which he secured 57 votes to 50.
He has pledged to modify the debt reduction target so that it is less austere than the one set by Kenny's government past year, and plans to lobby the European Union to give it the freedom to apply more funding to sorely needed infrastructure projects. He appointed his electoral rival, Home Minister Simon Coveney his deputy.
North Korea's neighbour launches 'defiant' missile capable of striking Pyongyang
While that has been a non-starter for the United States , experts say this could be an opening gambit from Pyongyang. Sources also say there has been a build up of vehicles and personnel at North Korea's nuclear testing site.
Although the dust has barely settled on a leadership campaign that only looked like providing one outright victor, the task of turning around Ireland's deepest problems is still on the horizon for Varadkar and his latest decision to move a number of key ministers to different departments could make or break his future as Dail Eireann's top dog. He added, "The government that I lead will not be one of left or right because those old divisions don't comprehend the political challenges of today".
Echoing new French President Emmanuel Macron, he said: "I want to do right for our citizens".
Government sources close to Leo Varadkar, the incoming Taoiseach, have told the Irish Examiner that whoever ends up in Foreign Affairs will have a greatly enhanced Brexit-focused role. After the UK's decision with Brexit, Ireland remains in a delicate position, particularly with United Kingdom trade links and the Irish border.
The veteran Fine Gael politician, who is the country's longest serving taoiseach, delivered a relatively short valedictory address to the Dail parliament. Varadkar is also the European Union's youngest leader at 38.
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