President William Ruto on Wednesday announced that he will be sponsoring a bill to make November 1 of every year a national holiday to celebrate Diwali, a Hindu ceremony.
Speaking during Diwali celebrations at State House in Nairobi, the Head of State said that the proposal must first undergo the requisite legislative process before it officially becomes a national holiday.
President Ruto revealed that he would hold a conversation with the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula to ensure the proposal is passed before the next Diwali ceremony in November 2025.
“I have heard your request on the issue of us having Diwali as a national holiday. I will subject it to the government process, the speaker is here,” President Ruto remarked.
“If it has to happen, it has to go through Parliament but I want to assure you that we will have decided by the next Diwali,” Ruto added.
Ruto was forced to clarify the matter moments after Speaker Wetangula pledged to ensure that a bill fronted before parliament to formally make Diwali a national holiday was seamlessly passed by members of the National Assembly.
"Your Excellency, if you decide to give them (the Hindu community) a holiday, I will put the question very quickly in parliament," Speaker Wetangula told Ruto.
Ruto's latest pronouncement comes against the backdrop of the much-anticipated Hindu ceremony with most Kenyans calling on the government to gazette Friday, November 1, a national holiday.
Meanwhile, the Head of State while addressing the delegates, also assured the Hindu community that his administration would put in place all the necessary measures to protect the right of every Kenyan to worship regardless of their origin.
According to President Ruto, the right to worship was a constitutional provision and that interfering with it would mean going against the country's laws.
"Let me also take this occasion to give you my assurance and that of the government of Kenya that we will protect by all means possible, the sacred provision of the right to worship by all Kenyans and all religions," President Ruto promised.
"There would be no interference whatsoever, there will be no limitations to religion. We must realise and recognise that the preamble of our constitution speaks on the acknowledgement of God as the Supreme being."
